Urfa - Ulu Cami

The 12th century Grand Mosque in Urfa was erected on the site of the former Church of St Stephen. A synagogue is believed to have preceded the church. One interesting feature is the octagonal minaret in the west of the complex. It would probably have been retained from the church which was built at the time of Justinian. The prayer rooms are laid out as a cross vault and above the prayer niche is a small, simple dome. The mosque was commissioned by Nur Eddin, son and successor to the Seljuk governor of Mosul, Imad Eddin Zengi, founder of the Zengi dynasty.