Tankiz Mosque
About the place
- Country : Syria , Damascus
- Address : Tanzik Mosque, Al Nasr, Damascus, Syria
- Category : Mosques
Tankiz Mosque
Overview:
• Al-Tankiz Mosque or Al-Sayfi Al-Tankizi Mosque is located in the west of Damascus on Al-Nasr Street near Al-Hijaz Station.
• The origin of the word "Tankiz" is Turkish, meaning "sea".
• It was built in Safar 717 AH. It was built by Emir Tankiz al-Nasiri, the deputy of al-Sham on the Banias River in Damascus. Its construction was completed in Sha'ban, and the first prayer was held there on the tenth day.
Architectural Description:
• A large mosque with a rectangular facade overlooking Al-Nasr Street. It has two main doors, east and west, from which you can rise to the first floor where the Haram.
• The mosque today has a long stone front with four doors, two of which lead to the qiblah and two to the courtyard.
• The mosque has an ancient Mamluk-style minaret located in the northeastern side. It was renovated by the Islamic Endowment Department with the knowledge of the Antiquities Authority in Dhul-Qa’dah in the year 1361. This minaret is considered one of the finest minarets.
• The area of the old mosque is estimated at about three thousand square meters.
Historic overview:
• The mosque was built in the place of the Church of St. Nicholas.
• Its construction began in Safar in the year 717 AH, and the building was completed in Sha'ban in the year 718 AH, meaning that it did not take more than seventeen months.
• In its entrance from the eastern side, the mosque embraces the tomb of the Prince “Tankiz” covered with a dome. The neck of the dome has two layers: an octagonal lower layer and an upper layer with sixteen sides that is considered the indeed ancient Islamic architecture.
Resources:
esyria.sy/edamascus website
naseemalsham website
discover-syria website
The website of the Syrian Ministry of Awqaf
syrianmodernhistory website
