Ankara - Arslanhani Camii

Built in 1289 at the time of the Emir Seref Eddin, the Arslanhani Camii, on the south side of the citadel hill, is Ankara's oldest mosque. Prior to the construction in the 1970s of the Kocatepe Camii it was also the largest. Originally called the Ahi Seref Eddin Camii after its founder, the mosque became known as the Arslanhani Camii on account of a Roman stone-carving of a lion which once stood in the courtyard.

The mosque is part of a complex (külliye) of several buildings all endowed by Seref Eddin. These include a medrese and an early 14th century octagonal Seljuk broach-roof türbe on Roman foundations, situated across the alleyway immediately on the left next to the mosque entrance. The main portal of the mosque has stalactitic decoration and incorporates pieces of Byzantine and Roman masonry. Although in plan the mosque is a typical five-aisle Seljuk basilica, the ceiling over center aisle being slightly raised, the multi-columned prayer hall reveals it as one of the few "forest mosques" in Anatolia, the ceiling of elaborate stepped timbering being supported on two dozen wooden columns with Romano-Byzantine capitals. Note also the prayer niche of blue faience tiles with pierced stucco stalactitic vaulting, and the staircase pulpit (1209) in richly carved walnut.