Tombul Mosque

The Tombul Mosque ( Bulgarian Томбул джамия / Tombul dschamija, Turkish Tombul Camii ) is the largest mosque in Bulgaria and supposedly also the second largest mosque in the Balkan Peninsula. It is located in Shumen in the northeast of the country and is not only one of the most important monuments of Islamic art in Bulgaria from the period of Ottoman rule, but probably also the most important Ottoman building of the 18th century in the European part of the empire. Construction began in 1740 and was, according to the inscription completed 1744/1745.

During the communist rule in Bulgaria (1944-1989), the mosque served as a museum. Today the Tombul mosque is in operation again and one of the 100 national tourist objects in the country ( number 95 ), which were listed by the Bulgarian Tourist Office.

Name

The more commonly used in the vernacular name of the mosque derives from the Turkish word tombul ( Engl. chubby, spherical, plump ) from describing the bulbous shape of the dome. The "official" name of structure is Serif Halil Paşa Mosque - (Bulgarian: Джамия Шериф Халил паша, Turkish: Halil Paşa Camii Serif ), it's builder a pressure acting in the first half of the 18th century Ottoman administrators, probably from the region of Shumen was a native.

Architecture

The building complex consists of a Friday mosque, a courtyard garden and another building with 12 rooms, which was once used as accommodation of students of madrasah. The mosque is based on a square plan; the dome but is supported by an octagonal drum. The tip ( alem ) of the dome is 25 meters above the ground. The interior of the prayer house is decorated with floral and geometrical shapes ( Arabesque ) and suras in Arabic script. A portico opens to the courtyard. The minaret of the mosque Tombul is about 40 meters high. Although the mosque is often cited as an example of the " Ottoman Baroque" in the Balkans, is " baroque " elements are found only in the, probably predating the mid- 19th century wall paintings inside, but not in architecture and architectural sculpture.

According to tradition, to the construction of the mosque Tombul as supporting elements also pillars of the palaces of the nearby medieval Bulgarian capitals Pliska and Preslav are used, which were not received at the time of mosque construction should.

In addition to the aforementioned Friday Mosque and Madrasa of the building complex of the Serif Halil Paşa houses furthermore a primary school ( Mektep ) and a library in which once also teaching in Islamic calligraphy ( calligraphy ) have been issued. In the middle of the side adjacent to the mosque courtyard, around which the rooms of the madrasa and the library are located, is a Şadırvan -called fountain.

Inscription

The text of the on a marble plaque over the entrance attached inscription (Turkish kitabe ) comes from renowned poet Nimet Istanbul. The eight couplets, divided into 16 fields were edged font, also known calligraphers from İbrahim Namik designed, as the inscription says. This is a translation as follows:

" The manager [ Kethüda ] of the Grand Vizier, the refuge of high and low, that namesake of the founder of the Holy House, that enlightened personality, that Incorruptible has twice graced the high point of stewardship [ kethüdalık ] with good fortune and power. The one who does the important matters of religion and the state, is the one who performs the Sunnah, which is the helper of the servant of the exalted religious law. Because he has a pure origin and generosity that has made this city Magnanimous pure and clean with praiseworthy works, which, among other things met this lovely sanctuary with light whose floor plan beautiful, whose elevation lovely and the construction of which, moreover, is fixed. How beautiful is the new structure, the sanctuary herzberückenden building! If it is the Kaaba equivalent and follows her, so this is only fair. The truth is that he is " the love of the homeland " has furnished proof of the truth of the saying. The gracious master should make it abundantly reward partakers! Nimet also has a beautiful chronogram to their [ie, the mosque ] Description compiled: " The pure Mosque of Serif 's like a light has been revived. " Written by İbrahim Namik, in 1157 Hijri [ ie 1744/5 A.D. ].