| Great Mosque of Hama جامع حماة الكبير |
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The octagonal Mamluk minaret built in 1427 |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Hama, Syria |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Mosque |
| Architectural style | Umayyad |
| Completed | 8th century |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | 5 |
| Minaret(s) | 2 |
The Great Mosque of Hama (Arabic: جامع حماة الكبير), is a mosque in Hama, Syria. It is located about 400 meters (1,300 ft) west of the citadel. Built in the 8th century CE, it was heavily damaged in a 1982 uprising, but today it has been completely restored.
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It was built by the Umayyads in the early eighth century and was modelled on the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. The Great Mosque used to be a Byzantine church which was adapted for Islamic use. The church itself had been built where a Roman temple once stood. Some of the Byzantine structure still remains, but most of the building was destroyed during the Byzantine re-occupation of northern Syria in 986. The mosque's origin as a Christian basilica can be seen in its three-aisled structure, and that its prayer hall is topped by five domes, in the shape of a cross.[1] The courtyard to the north is enclosed by a vaulted portico and contains an elevated treasury, of the sort associated with those in the patio of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.[2]
The Great Mosque has two minarets. One is a square-based tower adjacent to the prayer hall and from an inscription on its surface, dates back to 1124, although some argue that its base is of Umayyad origin,[3] while others say it was constructed in 1153.[1] The second minaret is octagonal in shape and was built by the Mamluks in 1427.[3] At the side of the main northern courtyard is a smaller square courtyard containing the tombs of two 13th century Ayyubid kings.[3]
The mosque was almost completely destroyed during the civil disturbances in Hama in 1982,[3] but has since been rebuilt by the Antiquities Department of the Syrian government.[1] Both minarets were destroyed during the disturbances.[1] By 2001, the Great Mosque has been fully restored and its reconstruction is faithful to the original Umayyad design in nearly every detail.[3]