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Gjin Aleksi Mosque

Coordinates: 39°57′06″N 20°04′35″E / 39.9518°N 20.0764°E / 39.9518; 20.0764
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Gjin Aleksi Mosque
Xhamia e Gjin Aleksit
The mosque in 2010
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusMosque
StatusActive
Location
LocationRusan near Delvinë, Vlorë County
CountryAlbania
Gjin Aleksi Mosque is located in Albania
Gjin Aleksi Mosque
Location of the mosque in Albania
Map
Coordinates39°57′06″N 20°04′35″E / 39.9518°N 20.0764°E / 39.9518; 20.0764
Architecture
TypeIslamic architecture
StyleOttoman
Completed17th century CE
Minaret1
Official nameGjin Aleksi Mosque

The Gjin Aleksi Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Gjin Aleksit) is a mosque, located in the village of Rusan, near Delvinë, in the Vlorë County of Albania. Completed during the 17th century CE, the mosque was designated as a Cultural Monument of Albania.[when?][1] The mosque is distinguished for the high quality of acoustics, obtained through casks that are strategically placed in holes in the walls.[2]

Description

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The mosque consists of a columned prayer hall with tile-covered domes, a minaret which does not have a roof anymore and a gallery for the muezzin. There is also a gallery for women on the side of the entrance. The hall has a frieze with the names of God in Islam. Due to walls covered with ceramics, the mosque has good acoustics.[3]

History

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Evliya Çelebi describes Gjin Aleksi as a quarter of Delvina. The mosque was likely built in the first half of the 17th century. It seems that later it was turned into a center of the Bektashi order. Bektashi babas (clergymen) were originally buried in the hexagonal turrets, one of which directly saw through the window to the mihrab in the east wall. The turrets serve as classrooms and prayer rooms.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  2. ^ Hoxha, Ermir. "Në kompleksin islamik të Delvinës". Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Zindel, Christian; Lippert, Andreas; Lahi, Bashkim; Kiel, Machiel (2018). Albanien: Ein Archäologie- und Kunstführer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (in German). Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. pp. 121–122.