Orta Mosque, Veria

The Orta Mosque in 2009

The Orta Mosque meaning the Middle Mosque (Greek: Ορτά Τζαμί) is a late 15th-century Ottoman mosque in the northern Greek city of Veria.

Built in 1490, the mosque is "one of the most notable specimens of Ottoman architecture" in the city. As its Turkish name indicates, it is in the centre of the city, between the Kentrikis, Leonidou and Themistokleous streets.^[1] It is a plain, square structure, measuring 8 metres (26 ft) on each side, housing a single large hall and topped by a dome, once sheathed in lead, supported by an octagonal drum. The entrance formerly featured an impressive portico with four marble pillars supporting four small arches, of which now only a ruined portion survives.^[1] The walls are built of large limestone blocks, but heavy use has also been made of marble spolia from Classical and Byzantine buildings; among the identifiable fragments are inscriptions in honour of Lucius Calpurnius Piso and emperor Nerva, from the local Temple of the Sebastoi.^[2]

The grouting of the building's external walls is used in decorative manner, protruding from the masonry. The minaret features a particularly striking decoration resembling lattice work.^[3] Wooden buildings were formerly joined to the building, as old photos and traces in the northeastern and southwestern corners attest.^[3] The mosque was declared a preserved monument in 1938, but has variously been used as a house, a musical instruments workshop and a stonemason’s workshop.^[3]

References

1. Marge & Matskani 2007, p. 74.
2. Marge & Matskani 2007, pp. 74–75.
3. Marge & Matskani 2007, p. 75.

Sources

• Marge, Anastasia I.; Matskani, Anna S. (2007). "Η οθωμανική αρχιτεκτονική στην πόλη της Βέροιας" [The Ottoman architecture in the city of Veroia]. Αρχαιολογία και Τέχνες (in Greek) (105): 72–78. ISSN 1108-2402.

Coordinates: 40°31′17″N 22°12′03″E / 40.521286°N 22.200929°E