Shafaqna English- The Great Mosque of Diyarbakir, is located in the historic city of Diyarbakır in south-eastern Türkiye. It is considered one of the oldest extant Mosque structures in Anatolia and one of the major early Islamic monuments in the region.
After the Muslim Arab conquest of Diyarbakır in 639 AD, a church in the city was converted for use as a Mosque. The site uses much spolia (re-used stone, capitals, friezes) from Roman/Byzantine buildings, showing layers of much earlier architectural usage on this site. Over time it underwent numerous restorations and additions.
The Mosque is oriented so that the prayer hall lies on the southern side of a large rectangular courtyard, which is unusual in the region and reflects specific architectural and urban-planning considerations. Exterior walls are built largely of local basalt stone (dark volcanic rock) giving it a distinctive appearance.
Because of its early date and continuing use, the Mosque is vital for understanding the transition from pre-Islamic monumental architecture (Roman/Byzantine) to early Islamic architecture in Anatolia. It is also significant as a living place of worship, showing continuity of Islamic community use across many centuries.
Source: safarway