Ergülü Baba Mosque

Sungurlu MosqueHistoric Buildings October 2010

The Ergülü Baba Mosque is a historic Ottoman-era structure located in Yörüklü, a village in the Sungurlu district of Çorum. The mosque was commissioned in 1530 by Ergülü Baba. This date places the building at the beginning of the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent (Kanunî Sultan Süleyman) and shows that the mosque is a product of a period in which the classical Ottoman architecture of Anatolia reached its maturity.

History

The endowment deed (vakfiye) drawn up by Ergülü Baba, the founder of the mosque, bears the tughra (imperial monogram) of Süleyman the Magnificent at its head. The presence of the tughra on the deed reveals that the establishment of the building was secured by an official document and that the mosque and its surrounding charitable foundations were intended to be sustained within the framework of a pious endowment (vakıf). In the classical Ottoman period, it was a common practice to maintain structures such as mosques, masjids, and zaviyes (dervish lodges) through such endowments.

The mosque was restored by the General Directorate of Foundations (Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü) in 1999. However, as a result of this restoration the building moved significantly away from its original state, and the height of the mosque was further increased. For this reason, the mosque seen today does not fully reflect the form in which it was first built.

Architecture

The mosque has a square plan and is covered by a dome on an octagonal drum that rests upon the walls. This single-domed, square-plan arrangement is a scheme frequently encountered in Ottoman neighborhood and way-station mosques. In front of the building lies a portico (son cemaat yeri) set aside for those who come to worship to gather.

Built of finely cut stone, the walls of the mosque are divided horizontally into three sections by projecting moldings. These moldings both lend movement to the façade and balance the massive appearance of the building. The interior is illuminated by round-arched windows arranged in two rows of two on each side, ensuring that the prayer hall (harim) is a spacious and bright space.

Also built of cut stone, the minaret has a cylindrical body and a single balcony (şerefe). The cut-stone craftsmanship, both in the main building and in the minaret, is a noteworthy feature reflecting the stonemasonry of its era.

Location and Related Places

The mosque is located in the settlement of Yörüklü, which belongs to Sungurlu. For information about the district’s history and its other historic buildings, see the History of Sungurlu page. Among the other places of worship in Sungurlu are the Ulu Mosque (Sungurlu), the Hilmi Efendi Mosque, and the Kavşut Mosque. For examples that complement the district’s religious and mystical building tradition, the Garib Baba Dervish Lodge and the Yediler Dervish Lodge can also be visited.

ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.