ALAYBEY MOSQUE: REVIVING A HERITAGE
Alaybey Mosque is located at parcel no. 461, block 893, in Alaybey Neighborhood of Şahinbey District, Gaziantep Province, at the intersection of Gaziler Street and Şıhcan Street. The mosque was built by Gami Bey, who served as the commander (alaybeyi) under the Ottoman provincial governor (sancak beyi). The exact date of its initial construction is unknown.
According to a record dated 1005 Hijri (1596/1597 CE), Gami Bey’s son, Mehmet Bey, reported that he personally covered the repair expenses of the Alaybey Mosque he had built in the Tarla-yı Atik neighborhood and added a small mosque (mescit) and a fountain next to it. The Ayıntab Evkaf Register from 1557 CE does not mention the Alaybey Mosque, which suggests it was likely constructed between 1557 and 1597.
A gravestone in the cemetery (hazire) east of the mosque, dated 1003 Hijri (1594/1595 CE), whose ownership is unknown, is also a significant clue for dating the mosque. The Alaybey Mosque complex includes a minaret, a cemetery, a fountain (şadırvan), and ablution facilities, all situated within a courtyard. The surrounding walls are made of cut stone and topped with stone coping.
Historical records indicate that cemeteries were once located on the mosque’s eastern and southern façades, though only the eastern one survives today. The mosque has a rectangular plan with two aisles parallel to the mihrab and is organized into five bays separated by arches. The prayer hall (harim) is roofed with cross vaults supported by stone piers. While the original roof is believed to have been flat, it now features a hipped roof covered with traditional Turkish tiles (alaturka kiremit).
The minaret rises from the northeast corner of the mosque, attached to the wall above the portico (son cemaat yeri). Built from cut stone, the minaret has a dodecagonal shaft and a single balcony (şerefe). The balcony’s balustrades are adorned with geometric and floral motifs, showcasing skilled stone carving.
The mosque’s façades are built from cut stone and designed with simplicity, enlivened by window niches. Records show that Alaybey Mosque underwent restorations in the years 1642, 1703, 1810, 1833, 1950, 1966, 1988, and 2014. The restorations in 1703, 1810, and 1988 were particularly extensive.
The mosque sustained damage during the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023.
As ALBA İNŞAAT, we have been continuing the restoration works since 2023.