The Zagan Pasha (Zagnos Pasa) Mosque The Zagan Pasha Mosque, situated in the city center of Balikesir, is a significant historical site that has gained popularity as the venue where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, delivered his renowned "Balikesir Khutbah" in 1923. At the outset of his speech, Ataturk offered prayers, stating “God is one, his glory is great. May God's peace, reference and goodness be upon you”, and went on to emphasize the fundamental principles of the new Turkish Republic, including its upcoming revolutions and formation. Constructed in 1461 by Zagan Pasha, an Ottoman military commander and Grand Vizier of Albanian descent, the mosque comprises a tomb and a hammam. Although the mosque's buildings were destroyed during the Admiralty in 1897, they were rebuilt in 1908 by Governor Ömer Ali Bey. Today, the Zagan Pasha Mosque remains a significant historical landmark that attracts visitors from far and wide. The largest mosque in Balıkesir, Turkey is built with ashlar masonry in a square plan. The main dome is accompanied by four smaller side domes, and the mosque can be entered through its north, west, and east doorways. The porch is surrounded on three sides by an inclined lead-coated timber roof supported by two square columns, with no narthex in sight. The minaret was donated by the notable Hafız Efendi family and is located on the northwest corner of the building. Within the courtyard, there are two shadirvans and a tomb, with an additional pentagonal shadirvan outside of the northwest corner. A sundial can be found at the south end of the courtyard, attached to an object sitting atop a short, thick column.