Yelmaniye Mosque

Yelmaniye Mosque

The Yelmaniye Mosque, also known as the Madrasa Mosque, is situated atop a hill in Tepebaşı (Medrese) District, within Çemişgezek District Center in Turkey. It was constructed during the Timurid period between 1400 and 1407 by Emir Taceddin Yelman as an Islamic school or madrasa.

Yelmaniye Mosque

While the primary purpose of the building was to serve as a school, it was also used as a mosque. The mosque has undergone several modifications and repairs over the years, with traces of other structures still visible around the building. The foundation in the southern part of the mosque suggests that it was initially part of a complex of buildings.

The southern part of the mosque was dedicated to education, while the north section housed student rooms and a soup kitchen, among other facilities. The most well-preserved aspect of the mosque is its crown gate, located on the western façade, which features an iwan made from meticulously cut stone on a sloping hill. The entrance is surrounded by stone belts adorned with geometric patterns, which remain stunning despite the changes around them.

As the door opens, the octagonal, geometric columns at the entrance rotate. The space is adorned with a single dome and lacks a minaret. However, the mosque's mihrab, decorated with green tiles, adds to its uniqueness. With a single dome and no minaret, the Yelmaniye Mosque's architecture is a blend of Seljuk and Ottoman styles, making it a transitional piece.