The Korkut (Truncated) Mosque. It stands on the foundations of a second century AD temple, which was knocked down in the 6th century to erect a church. This was badly damaged during the invasion of Arabs in the 7th century, but was repaired in the 9th. During the Seljuk period it was converted to a mosque, but when Antalya fell in 1361 to the Cypriot King Peter I is was turned into a church again. During the reign of Prince Korkut (1470-1509), a son of sultan Beyazit II, it yet again became a mosque. In 1896 it was largely destroyed by fire. The minaret lost its upper part in that fire, hence the other name for what was formerly known as the Korkut or also Friday Mosque.

On the picture: Byzantine stone carving (a motif of stylized acanthus leaves), 9th century.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen
Source: ‘Dictionary of Art and Archaeology’ (J.W.Mollett) – London 1996.