 | |
| Back to Ayasoluk Hill and the Isa Bey Mosque and Basilica of St. John. But first, a picnic alongside the walls of the Basilica. |
 |
| Any place will do when you are hungry...quiet, not crowded and a view! |
 | |
| Can you imagine building these roads? |
 |
| Isa Bey Mosque built in 1375 in honor of Isa Bey, the prince of the Aydin Turks who ruled western Turkey at that time. It was the first mosque to be built with a courtyard and vaulted ceilings. The mosque was devastated by an earthquake in the 19th century. Renovations began in 1975 and continue today. |
 |
| Mustafa Kocyigit, Imam of Isa Bey, gave us a personal tour of the interior and exterior of the mosque. |
 |
| The carpet was the newest addition to the mosque; prior to this, the floor was covered in many multicolored carpets donated by the men who pray in the mosque. |
 |
| There are 99 steps in the minaret, one for each of the prayer beads; in the days before loud speakers, the Imam cllmbed the stairs 5 times per day for the call to prayer |
 |
| The Imam says "God is not in these walls, he is here (touching his heart), and we can pray to Him anytime, anywhere" |
No comments:
Post a Comment