A Wooden-Columned Mosque from Anatolia. Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque

Abstract

Wooden-columned mosques constitute a major structural group in Turkish mosque architecture. Inspired by the abundance of forestation in the region in which they were built, the mosques that made use of wood boasted rich architectural ornamentation. It is the aim of this study to offer a presentation of Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque, one of the wooden-columned mosques that were widely constructed in the Anatolian Selçuk Era, taking their place in Anatolian Turko-Islamic architecture. A product of the local master builders of its time, the structure was included in UNESCO’s List of Provisional World Heritage Sites. In this context, the paper will describe the characteristics and elements of the layout of the Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque, its structural system, roof structure, and the distinctive features of the materials and adornments used.