Turkey / Other

Ulu Mosque (Diyarbakır)

An early mosque of Anatolia with Seljuk roots and a tiled minaret rising above Diyarbakır's black basalt walls, part of a historic city with deep layers of history.

Diyarbakır's Ulu Mosque stands among the oldest purpose-built mosques in Anatolia, rooted in the Seljuk period of the 12th century. Over the centuries it has been rebuilt, extended and restored after earthquakes and other disruptions, yet it retains architectural elements that speak to its early origins and to the mosque traditions that reached eastern Anatolia from the east and south. It forms part of the historic religious complex at the heart of the old city, close to the great basalt walls that have defined Diyarbakır for centuries.

The Camel Minaret

The mosque's most distinctive feature is its minaret, a slender tower of brick decorated with turquoise glazed tiles. Its Turkish name, Deve Boynu, refers to the arch at its base, which curves in a way that recalls the arch of a camel's neck. The tilework, in vivid blues and greens, stands out against the dark basalt of the city around it and is visible from stretches of the old walls that run nearby. The minaret has been rebuilt more than once, but it remains a landmark in the Diyarbakır skyline.

Architecture and Layout

The mosque follows a traditional plan with a large central courtyard and a covered prayer hall. Seljuk architectural influences are visible in the use of brick and in the iwan-style recesses that open off the central space. Stone and brick are used together throughout, reflecting the materials most readily available in Diyarbakır. The building's proportions are substantial rather than ornate, giving the interior a sense of solidity and quiet. Decorative inscriptions and geometric carving on the stonework mark the main entry points.

Diyarbakır's Historic Setting

The mosque sits within a dense urban fabric of old streets, covered bazaars and other historic monuments. Diyarbakır itself is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the region, its identity shaped by the massive black basalt walls that still encircle much of the old town. These walls, the Hevsel Gardens that once supplied the city, and a cluster of historic mosques, churches and madrasas are together recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walking from the Ulu Mosque toward the walls, visitors pass through streets whose scale and materials have changed little over generations.

On the map