The Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi, in the Sivas region of central Turkey, is a rare surviving masterpiece of Anatolian Seljuk architecture. The mosque was commissioned by Ahmed Shah of the Mengujekid dynasty, while the attached hospital was built by his wife, Turan Melek. The building is plain on the outside but remarkable for its three richly carved portals, which cover the stone with intricate geometric, floral and calligraphic patterns that look almost like wood or plaster work. Inside, the star-shaped vaulting and the large central dome over the hospital are equally unusual. UNESCO listed the complex as a World Heritage Site in 1985, among the first sites in Turkey to be inscribed.
Before and after
- 25 August 1227Death of Genghis Khan
- 1228Construction of Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi
- from 1228 to 1243War of the Lombards
- from 1228 to 1229Sixth Crusade
- 1229Construction of Divriği Great Mosque and Hospital
- from 1230 to 1492Nasrid dynasty
- 1235Battle of Kirina
- from 1235 to 1670Mali Empire
- from 1236 to 1833Kingdom of Córdoba
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- 802 CEConstruction of Angkor Wat
- 1193Origins of Chernobyl
- from 29 July 1299 to 17 November 1922Ottoman Empire
- 1373Construction of Leaning Tower of Pisa
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 13th century.