Mosque of the Prophet Huri | |
---|---|
![]() The pyramidal-roofed tower tomb of Nebi Huri, which is part of the mosque complex. | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Islam |
Province | Aleppo Governorate |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Cyrrhus, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
Location in
Aleppo Governorate | |
Geographic coordinates | 36°44′07″N 36°57′13″E / 36.7353866°N 36.9535671°E |
Architecture | |
Type | mausoleum, later mosque |
Style | Roman, Mamluk, Ottoman |
General contractor |
|
Date established |
|
Specifications | |
Shrine(s) | 1 |
Materials | stone |
The Mosque of the Prophet Huri or Nebi Huri Mosque (in Arabic: مسجد النبي هوري, in Turkish: Peygamber Huri Camii) is a mosque and mausoleum located at the archeological site of Cyrrhus near Afrin, Syria. It was formerly known as the Nebi Huri Mausoleum (ضريح النبي هوري/Peygamber Huri Turbesi) as well.
It is built around a Roman-period hexagonal tower tomb which was converted into a Muslim shrine or mausoleum during the Mamluk period.
Nebi Huri was a Sufi saint, whom the locals believed had the abilities to grant the wishes of anyone who was sincere. [1] Other traditions cite the name of Nebi Huri as being "Prophet Huri" as an Islamicized version of Uriah the Hittite who was a military general for the army of King David. [2] However, the tomb is actually that of a military commander who worked under the Roman Empire. [3]
The building was originally a hexagonal tower tomb, dated to have been built during the 2nd or 3rd century BC, during the rule of the Roman Empire. [3] [4] It is also described as being a tomb for a Roman military commander. The site surrounding the tomb, and possibly the tomb itself, was damaged in 1140, during Crusader rule, by a huge earthquake. [3] [4]
During the rule of the Mamluk Sultanate, in 1303, the tower tomb was given a new attribution to a saint named Nebi Huri. [3] [4] The Roman cemetery next to the tomb became used for Muslim burials. [3] [4] In the same year, the tower tomb was converted into a Muslim shrine, and its bottom level became known as the grave of Nebi Huri. [5] In the year 1314, a mosque was built next to the tower tomb by Ala ad-Din ibn Altunbugha, the Mamluk governor of Aleppo. [3] [4]
During Ottoman rule, in the year 1875, the old Mamluk-era mosque was demolished and a new mosque building replaced it. [3] [4] The mosque was used as a congregational mosque, where the Friday prayers were performed. [4] [3] It was a prominent site of visit by the residents of nearby villages. [3] [4]
The tower tomb was damaged and looted during the Afrin offensive in 2018. [5] It was reported that soldiers of the Free Syrian Army ransacked the tomb looking for treasure. [5] They had also overturned the wooden cenotaph over the tomb of Nebi Huri, and threw rubbish all over the tomb's floor. [5] Precious items were allegedly stolen from the places around the tomb as well. [1]
In 2020, after the wars in that region had ended, Turkish authorities reconstructed the Nebi Huri mausoleum. [1] [6] It was also incorporated into part of a larger mosque complex, known as "Mosque of the Prophet Huri" but several old artifacts which remained at the site were destroyed and removed. [1] [6] The Turkish renovations added a wooden balcony to the mosque, but the minbar of the mosque was replaced with a new wooden one which was more evocative of Ottoman architecture. [6] The restoration efforts by the Turkish government were criticized as an attempt to "Ottoman-nize" Syrian history and heritage, because historical heritage was removed and destroyed during the renovation. [1] [6]
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cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)
Mosque of the Prophet Huri | |
---|---|
![]() The pyramidal-roofed tower tomb of Nebi Huri, which is part of the mosque complex. | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Islam |
Province | Aleppo Governorate |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Cyrrhus, Aleppo Governorate, Syria |
Location in
Aleppo Governorate | |
Geographic coordinates | 36°44′07″N 36°57′13″E / 36.7353866°N 36.9535671°E |
Architecture | |
Type | mausoleum, later mosque |
Style | Roman, Mamluk, Ottoman |
General contractor |
|
Date established |
|
Specifications | |
Shrine(s) | 1 |
Materials | stone |
The Mosque of the Prophet Huri or Nebi Huri Mosque (in Arabic: مسجد النبي هوري, in Turkish: Peygamber Huri Camii) is a mosque and mausoleum located at the archeological site of Cyrrhus near Afrin, Syria. It was formerly known as the Nebi Huri Mausoleum (ضريح النبي هوري/Peygamber Huri Turbesi) as well.
It is built around a Roman-period hexagonal tower tomb which was converted into a Muslim shrine or mausoleum during the Mamluk period.
Nebi Huri was a Sufi saint, whom the locals believed had the abilities to grant the wishes of anyone who was sincere. [1] Other traditions cite the name of Nebi Huri as being "Prophet Huri" as an Islamicized version of Uriah the Hittite who was a military general for the army of King David. [2] However, the tomb is actually that of a military commander who worked under the Roman Empire. [3]
The building was originally a hexagonal tower tomb, dated to have been built during the 2nd or 3rd century BC, during the rule of the Roman Empire. [3] [4] It is also described as being a tomb for a Roman military commander. The site surrounding the tomb, and possibly the tomb itself, was damaged in 1140, during Crusader rule, by a huge earthquake. [3] [4]
During the rule of the Mamluk Sultanate, in 1303, the tower tomb was given a new attribution to a saint named Nebi Huri. [3] [4] The Roman cemetery next to the tomb became used for Muslim burials. [3] [4] In the same year, the tower tomb was converted into a Muslim shrine, and its bottom level became known as the grave of Nebi Huri. [5] In the year 1314, a mosque was built next to the tower tomb by Ala ad-Din ibn Altunbugha, the Mamluk governor of Aleppo. [3] [4]
During Ottoman rule, in the year 1875, the old Mamluk-era mosque was demolished and a new mosque building replaced it. [3] [4] The mosque was used as a congregational mosque, where the Friday prayers were performed. [4] [3] It was a prominent site of visit by the residents of nearby villages. [3] [4]
The tower tomb was damaged and looted during the Afrin offensive in 2018. [5] It was reported that soldiers of the Free Syrian Army ransacked the tomb looking for treasure. [5] They had also overturned the wooden cenotaph over the tomb of Nebi Huri, and threw rubbish all over the tomb's floor. [5] Precious items were allegedly stolen from the places around the tomb as well. [1]
In 2020, after the wars in that region had ended, Turkish authorities reconstructed the Nebi Huri mausoleum. [1] [6] It was also incorporated into part of a larger mosque complex, known as "Mosque of the Prophet Huri" but several old artifacts which remained at the site were destroyed and removed. [1] [6] The Turkish renovations added a wooden balcony to the mosque, but the minbar of the mosque was replaced with a new wooden one which was more evocative of Ottoman architecture. [6] The restoration efforts by the Turkish government were criticized as an attempt to "Ottoman-nize" Syrian history and heritage, because historical heritage was removed and destroyed during the renovation. [1] [6]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link)