Lead Mosque, Shkodër: Difference between revisions
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===Post-Communism=== |
===Post-Communism=== |
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On 16 November 1990, the Lead Mosque preceded other mosques in Albania to reopen |
On 16 November 1990, the Lead Mosque preceded other mosques in Albania to reopen when religion was again allowed in the country. The very first religious rally was held in this mosque by [[Hafiz Sabri Koçi]], after 23 years of state atheism.<ref name="peshkupauje"/> |
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==Construction== |
==Construction== |
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Revision as of 02:19, 7 August 2010
| Lead Mosque | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of the mosque. | |
| Religion | |
| District | Shkodër District |
| Status | Preserved |
| Location | |
| Location | Shkodër, Albania |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1773 |
Lead Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Plumbit) is a historical mosque in Shkodër, in northwestern Albania. It is located on a small lake and is not functional.
It took the name Lead Mosque, because all of its cupolas were covered with lead.[1]
History
Lead Mosque was built in 1773 by the Albanian pasha Mehmed Bushati of the noble Bushati family, who was vizier of Pashalik of Shkodra at the time.[2] Through this act, he intended to give his city of birth, the feeling of the capital.[3]
Mehmed Bushati was personally involved with the construction and stones were incised under his patronage. Almost every day, he stepped down from his residence, the Rozafa Castle, to follow the progress of the works.[1]
The first Imam of the mosque was Haxhi Ahmet Misria, who was of Egyptian origin. He came to Albania after the contacts he had with Mehmed Bushati. After him, other Imams served and also took care of the mosque.[1]
Damages
During the 1900s, the mosque begun to be damaged and the lead that covered the cupolas was gradually stolen. In 1916, the remaining lead was removed by the Austrian army during the Austrian rule in Albania.[1]
In 1967, lightning destroyed its minaret, which had been previously reconstructed in 1920 by Xhelal Bushati, descendant of Mehmed Bushati.[4]
State atheism
In 1967, Lead Mosque was closed down, just like the other religious institutions, after the communist leader Enver Hoxha declared Albania an atheist state. Unlike many mosques that were destroyed during this time, it survived from the communist regime, probably because it was declared a Cultural Monument in 1948.[4][1][2]
Post-Communism
On 16 November 1990, the Lead Mosque preceded other mosques in Albania to reopen when religion was again allowed in the country. The very first religious rally was held in this mosque by Hafiz Sabri Koçi, after 23 years of state atheism.[1]
Construction
The Lead Mosque is built after the Ottoman architecture, unlike most other mosques in Albania which follow an Arab architecture.[2] It closely mirrors the classical Ottoman architecture of Istanbul, pioneered by architect Mimar Sinan of the 16th century.[3]
It is built with hewn stones of almost the same size, which creates construction symmetry. Stones were brought from a nearby village of Gur i Zi by people who aligned with kilometers to reach the construction point.[1]
Restoration
The mosque has been repaired numerous times during its lifetime: in 1863, 1920 and in 1963.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Mirsad Sylja (20 August 2008). "Si po shkatërrohet "Xhamia e Plumbit", pasuria mbi 100-vjeçare" (in Albanian). peshku pa uje. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ a b c d Anila Dushi (22 July 2008). "Xhamia e plumbit po kalbet" (in Albanian). Shekulli. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ a b "KATOLIKËT RESTAUROJNË XHAMINE E PLUMBIT" (in Albanian). Pajtimi. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Xhamia e Plumbit" (in Albanian). Shkoder.net. September 1999. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
External links
- Lead Mosque at Shkoder.net
