Great Mosque of the Citadel
| Great Mosque of the Citadel | |
|---|---|
 The dome of the mosque as seen in 2026. | |
  Location in Iraq | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | Ulu Camii, Kirkuk, Kirkuk Governorate, 36001, Iraq |
| Country | Iraq |
| Coordinates | 35°28′08″N 44°23′41″E / 35.4689391°N 44.3947025°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Seljuk architecture |
| Completed | 1237 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | 1 |
| Minaret | 1 |
The Great Mosque of the Citadel (Arabic: الجامع الكبير في القلعة, Turkish: Ulu Cami Kalesi) is a mosque located within the premises of the Kirkuk Citadel in Kirkuk, Iraq. Formerly a church converted into a mosque in the early 13th century, the present day structure is a 1237 reconstruction from the Seljuk period.[1]
History
The original building was a church built in the 7th century that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.[2][3] At the beginning of the 13th century, the Abbasids repaired the church and converted it into a mosque for the growing Muslim populace, known as the al-Adra Maryam Mosque.[2][3][4] The Seljuks rebuilt the mosque in 1237, remaining it to the Great Mosque and added a single brick minaret to the mosque complex, while a madrasa was added in 1657 by the Ottomans.[5][6] During the Ba'athist period in Kirkuk, the mosque was abandoned and entered a dilapidated state, which prompted botched restoration works to be done to the mosque and surrounding buildings between 1998 and 2003.[7] Due to armed conflicts in Kirkuk as well as structural issues that threatened the safety of worshippers, the mosque frequently closed and reopened its doors to the public during this time period, until 2026 when it was officially permanently reopened for the Islamic month of Ramadan.[5][8] The Great Mosque has also been labelled an official heritage site of Kirkuk along with the Blue Dome and the Prophet Daniel Mosque, as part of the wider Kirkuk Citadel complex.[4][9]
Architecture
The Great Mosque is built in the Seljuk architectural style. It has a rectangular layout, consisting of the main prayer hall and classrooms, as well as a facility for ablution.[6] A blue dome tops the main prayer hall of the mosque, while a small concrete staircase at the side of the hall leads to a secluded musalla.[6] The courtyard of the mosque serves as a garden, with several walkways allowing for easier access to the classrooms in the mosque.[6] The minaret of the mosque is unfinished and in a ruined state.[8]
Gallery
Main entrance to the mosque.
The ruined minaret of the mosque.
A view underneath the dome of the mosque.
Inside the main prayer hall of the mosque.
The musalla underneath the mosque.
See also
References
- ↑ Saban, F. Duygu; Mokhtar, Mustafa; Akar, Tuba (2021). "Resilience in intentionally destroyed historic settlements: An examination on Kirkuk Citadel and the old town of Van". Journal of Design to Resilience in Architecture and Planning. 2 (3): 311–326.
- 1 2 Arslan, Nouran (2022-04-13). "الشواخص التأريخية والتراثية في "قلعة كركوك"" [Historical and heritage landmarks in the "Kirkuk Citadel"]. Sada Turk (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- 1 2 Daoudi, Wassap (2025-06-11). "قلعة كركوك» قلب الحضارة النابض" [Kirkuk Citadel, the beating heart of civilization]. Kurdistan bil Arabi (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- 1 2 "Kirkuk Citadel". UNESCO. Kirkuk Governorate. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- 1 2 Ahmed, Nuruddin (2026-02-21). "Ulu Mosque in Iraq's Kirkuk hosts first Taraweeh in 35 years". Shafaq News. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- 1 2 3 4 Kamal, Rawaa (2025-06-20). "الجامع الكبير في منطقة القلعة" [The Great Mosque in the citadel area]. Al Taakhi News (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- ↑ Narmeen, Ali (2016-11-23). "The Citadel of Kirkuk: Reconnaissance and assessment of its archaeological heritage". University of Oxford. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
- 1 2 Nahda, Ali (2026-04-06). "جوامع قلعة كركوك تعيد إحياء تراث المدينة" [The mosques of Kirkuk Citadel are reviving the heritage of the city]. Al Sabaah Newspaper (in Arabic). Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- ↑ Saddam, Ancak (2021-04-19). "Kerkük Kalesi, UNESCO dünya kültür mirası listesine dahil edildi" [Kirkuk Castle has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List]. Rudaw (in Turkish). Retrieved 2026-04-30.
External links
