Yeni Mosque, Larissa

The Yeni Mosque (Greek: Γενί Τζαμί, from Turkish: Yeni Camii, "New Mosque") is a historical mosque in Larissa, Greece.

Yeni Mosque
The mosque in 2011, when it still housed the Archaeological Museum
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Region	Thessaly
Year consecrated	before 1881
Location
Municipality	Larissa
Country	Greece
Shown within Greece
Geographic coordinates	39°38′22.4″N 22°25′11.8″E
Architecture
Style	Neoclassical architecture

History

The mosque was built around the turn of the 20th century, in the centre of the city, at 31is Avgoustou Road.[1] Its exact date of construction, as well as its founder, are unknown, but the neoclassical decoration both on the exterior as well as in the interior point to sometime in the 19th century. It was the last of several mosques built in the city under Ottoman rule, whence its name.[2]

The mosque continued to be used by the local Muslims until 1924, when they left in consequence of the Greco-Turkish population exchange.[2] From 1939–1941 building was used to house the Municipal Library and a small archaeological collection, which was partly looted by the occupying forces during the Axis occupation of Greece.[2] The earthquakes of 1941, 1955, 1957, and 1980 damaged the building.[2] From the late 1950s until 2011 the building housed the Larissa Archaeological Museum.[1]

Design

The building is square-shaped, featuring a prayer hall with nine arched windows and a four-sided, tile-covered roof.[1] The entrance has a tripartite portico covered by three half-domes.[1] The minaret on the northwestern corner survives up to the balcony.[1]

References

1. "Το Γενί (Νέο) Τζαμί της Λάρισας" (in Greek). Larissa Ephorate of Antiquities. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
2. "Γενί Τζαμί". Municipality of Larissa Cultural Portal (in Greek). Municipality of Larissa. Retrieved 22 November 2018.