Al-Omari Mosque (Bosra)
| Al-Omari Mosque | |
|---|---|
الْمَسْجِد الْعُمَرِي | |
 The mosque in 2004, prior to its destruction | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque (712–c. 2012) |
| Status | Active (renovated) |
| Location | |
| Location | Bosra, Daraa Governorate |
| Country | Syria |
  Location of the former mosque in Syria | |
 | |
| Geographic coordinates | 32°31′18″N 36°28′58″E / 32.52153°N 36.48275°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Islamic architecture |
| Style | Umayyad |
| Founder | |
| Completed | 721 CE |
| Destroyed | c. 2012 (Damaged in the Syrian civil war) |
| Minaret | 1 (destroyed) |
 Ruins in Bosra | |
| Official name | Ancient City of Bosra |
| Location | Bosra, Syria |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (iii), (vi) |
| Reference | 22 |
| Inscription | 1980 (4th Session) |
| Endangered | 2013–present |
| Area | 116.2 ha (287 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 200.4 ha (495 acres) |
| Coordinates | 32°31′05″N 36°28′54″E / 32.518056°N 36.481667°E |
The Al-Omari Mosque of Bosra (Arabic: الْمَسْجِد الْعُمَرِي, romanized: al-Masjid al-ʿUmarīy) is a mosque in the Roman Ancient city of Bosra, Syria,[1] a World Heritage Site. The mosque was founded by Caliph Umar, who led the Muslim conquest of Syria in 636 CE, and it was completed in 721 CE by Caliph Yazid II. The mosque was renovated in the 12th and 13th century CE by the Ayyubid dynasties.[1] The mosque was lightly damaged between 2012 and 2014, during the Syrian civil war. The mosque has been renovated, and is active.[2]
History
[edit]The mosque is one of the oldest standing mosques in the world. It served as a rest stop for travelers, Arab caravans on trade routes through Syria and pilgrims traveling to Mecca. The travelers used the central courtyard of the mosque as a marketplace as well as a place to sleep. The arcades of the mosque on the eastern and western sides enclosed this central courtyard. The south side of the mosque had a double arcade that led to the mosque's prayer hall.[3]
The mosque's square minaret was one of the earliest examples of Umayyad-style minarets. Mosques in Damascus and Aleppo have similar style minarets from the same dynasty.[citation needed] This style of minaret was potentially inspired by the steeples of Syrian churches.[4]
Damage to Bosra began in 2012, as shells and tanks caused damage during the Syrian civil war. In 2014, shell crater damage caused a hole in the roof of the mosque.[5] Rubble from the mosque is scattered around the destruction site, and there is shell damage in the surrounding area as well.
Gallery
[edit]-
Al-Omari Mosque in J.L.Porter's The Giant Cities of Bashan, 1865 -
The mosque's square minaret in 2009
_(14592646820).jpg?lang=en)
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Jami' al-'Umari". ArchNet.org. n.d.
- ^ Syria TV تلفزيون سوريا (June 12, 2018). المسجد العمري في بصرى الشام | مآذن الشام. Retrieved October 14, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Jami' al-'Umari: Inauguration of the restored prayer hall" (photograph). ArchNet.org. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ "Minaret". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
- ^ "Ancient History, Modern Destruction: Assessing the Current Status of Syria's World Heritage Sites Using High-Resolution Satellite Imagery". aaas.org. September 16, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Al-Omari Mosque (Bosra) at Wikimedia Commons
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- 721 establishments
- 8th-century mosques
- 8th-century establishments in the Umayyad Caliphate
- Bosra
- Buildings and structures in Daraa Governorate
- Destroyed mosques
- Former mosques in Syria
- Mosque buildings with minarets in Syria
- Mosque ruins
- Religious buildings and structures completed in the 720s
- Ruins in Syria
- Umayyad architecture in Syria
- Syrian mosque stubs