The 1893 Restoration of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus in Light of Yıldız Albums: A Visual Analysis

Fatih Sarımeşe

Fatih Sarımeşe

Year : 2025
Vol : 5
Issue : 1
Page : 15-35

The Umayyad Mosque, an essential milestone in early Islamic architecture, was built between 705-715 by the Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik. Renowned in art and architectural history, the mosque is notable for its history, plan system, decorations, and architectural details. After Yavuz Sultan Selim's conquest of Damascus, the mosque came under Ottoman control. During the Ottoman period, the mosque underwent several interventions but suffered significant damage in a fire on October 15, 1893, during Sultan Abdulhamid II’s reign. The fire nearly destroyed the mosque, including the structure traditionally believed to be the Tomb of Prophet John, due to strong winds. Several surrounding buildings, too, were destroyed. Once the news reached Istanbul, restoration efforts were quickly initiated. Both locals and people from Istanbul contributed to the repair work. Edmonde Beşare’s reinforced concrete-based preliminary projects for the repairs were significant. Sultan Abdulhamid II tasked Osman Hamdi Bey with reporting on the mosque’s repairs. Osman Hamdi Bey recommended the "Tarz-ı Kadim" (old style) method for the restoration, favoring traditional Ottoman techniques over the suggested reinforced concrete. This approach reflected the classical Ottoman architectural period. The restoration highlighted the National Architectural Style, which would later become the state’s official style in 1908, being applied even before that. Changes to the mosque during the repairs, such as the addition of a muqarnas arch in the mihrab and a marble pulpit replacing the wooden one, demonstrate the National Architectural Style's influence. This restoration marks a key moment in the development of modern restoration awareness in the late Ottoman Empire.

Cite this Article As : Sarımeşe, F. (2025). Yıldız Albümleri Işığında Şam Emeviyye Camii’nin 1893 Onarımı: Görsel Bir Analiz, Nigarhane Dergisi, 5(1), 15-35.

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The 1893 Restoration of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus in Light of Yıldız Albums: A Visual Analysis, Research Article,
2025, Vol. 5 (1)

Received : 08.04.2025, Accepted : 16.06.2025 , Published Online : 29.12.2025