Great mosque description and photos - Tunisia: Sousse (Topic)

Great mosque description and photos - Tunisia: Sousse. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Great mosque.

Photo and description

The most famous landmark of Sousse is the Great Mosque. It was built in 850-851 by Emir Abul Abbaz Mohammed from the Aghlabid dynasty. The building was built similar to the Sidi Okba Mosque in Cairo. The inner courtyard and galleries of the mosque were built in the 1650s, and the entire complex, including the prayer rooms, was restored in the 60s and 70s of the XX century.

The mosque is easily recognizable by its unusual appearance, because it looks more like a building with two watchtowers at the southeast and north ends, that is, a kind of military structure. It is no coincidence that the mosque has such a plan - earlier it also served as a defensive structure. During the war with Christians, the mosque grew in size - new halls and passages were being completed. The main feature of the mosque is the minaret, to which a staircase leads from the courtyard. Numerous loopholes have been cut through the walls of the building facing the courtyard. Each loophole is decorated with semicircular arches and painted with a Kufi pattern. In the 20th century, the building was restored to its original appearance, removing some relatively recent buildings.

Several styles can be found in the architectural composition of the mosque, including the Roman one: prayer halls and courtyard galleries are decorated with Roman columns with skillfully carved marble capitals. The ceiling of the galleries is painted and decorated with vaulted carvings.

The mosque has a museum with many relics open to all visitors, but only Muslims are allowed to enter the prayer halls.

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Topic: Great mosque description and photos - Tunisia: Sousse.