Mosques and shrines of Mosul
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This article concerns the mosques and shrines of Mosul.
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[edit] The Umayyad Mosque
The first ever in the city, built in 640 AD by Utba bin Farqad Al-Salami after he freed Mosul in the reign of Caliph umar ibn Al-Khattab. The only part still extant is the remarkably elaborate brickwork 52 m high minaret that leans like the Tower of Pisa, called Al-Hadba (The Humped).
[edit] The Great (Nuriddin) Mosque
Built by Nuriddin Zanki in 1172 AD next door to the Umayyad Mosque. Ibn Battuta (the great Tunisian traveller) found a marble fountain there and a mihrab (the niche that indicates the direction of Mecca) with a Kufic inscription.
[edit] The Mosque of the Prophet Yunus or Younis (Jonah
On one of the two most prominent mounds of Nineveh ruins, rises the Mosque (an Nestorian-Assyrian Church before) of prophet Younis "Biblical Jonah", the son of Amittai, from the 8th century BC which is believed to be the burial place of him, and where king Esarhaddon had once built a palace.
This old shrine standing on the site of a Christian church is a stone's throw from the built-up walls and gates of Nineveh.
In the middle of the mosque stood a sepulcher, covered with a Persian carpet of silk and silver, and at the four corners, great copper candlesticks with wax tapers, besides several lamps and ostrich shells that hung down from the roof. A whale's tooth, appropriate to Jonah's well-known adventure at sea, is said to be preserved there.
It is one of the most important mosques in Mosul and one of the few historic mosques that are found in the east side of the city.
[edit] The Mujahidi Mosque
This dates back to 12th century AD, and is distinguished for its beautiful dome and elaborately wrought mihrab.
[edit] The Mosque of the Prophet Jerjis (Georges)
Believed to be the burial place of the prophet Jerjis. It is built of marble with beautiful reliefs and renovated last in 1393 AD. It was mentioned by the explorer Ibn Jubair in the 12th century AD, and is believed also to embrace the tomb of Al-Hur bin Yousif. The court of the ruler at time of Ummaveet ( Bany ummayya ) is thought to be not far from this mosque.
[edit] Mashad Yahya Abul Kassem
On the right bank of the Tigris, it known for its conical dome, decorative brick-work and calligraphy engraved in Mosul blue marble, 13th century.
[edit] Bash Tapia Castle
Part of Mosul's old walls which have disappeared, with the exception of these imposing ruins rising high over the Tigris.
[edit] Qara Serai (The Black Palace)
The remnants of the 13th century palace of Sultan Badruddin Lu'lu'. It was the court of the ruler of Mosul at the time of Uthmaneets. The Turkish meaning of the name is "black palace". The place was famous at the time when the Jaleeli dynasty ruled Mosul early in the 18th century; the Persians invaded Kurdistan and progressed towards Mosul, besieging the city. But the city resisted and after a long siege Nader Shah decided to turn back without invading the city. It was here that the command and control was based.
[edit] See also
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