Ulu (Büyük) Mosque (İskilip)
The Ulu Mosque is a historic Ottoman structure located in the center of İskilip, one of Çorum’s long-established districts, and stands out as one of the town’s important places of worship. Also known among locals as the “Büyük Cami” (Great Mosque), the building is considered one of the most noteworthy examples of religious architecture within İskilip’s traditional urban fabric.
History
The mosque was built in 1839 by the master architect Çöcükçüoğlu Hasan Usta. Although this date falls within a period when the Ottoman Empire was moving away from its classical-era architecture and turning toward new stylistic explorations, the building remained faithful to the traditional ulu cami (great mosque) concept in its plan and overall layout. Its construction was modeled after the Çorum Ulu Mosque (Murad-ı Rabi Mosque) in the provincial center, and it adopts a design consistent with the great mosque plan types of Ottoman architecture.
Architecture
The mosque was constructed using cut stone and brick, and it has a rectangular plan. Its roof, as in many traditional buildings of the region, is covered by a wooden dome. This roofing system is significant in that it reflects the construction techniques of the period and the locality.
In the interior, the mihrab indicating the direction of the qibla is covered with tiles; this decoration forms an eye-catching ornamental element within the mosque’s plain stone-and-brick texture. Next to the mosque stands a minaret with a round body and a single balcony (şerefe), set upon a square stone base. This configuration of the minaret is one of the regional reflections of the classical Ottoman minaret form.
Location and Surroundings
The building is situated in İskilip’s historic center, intertwined with examples of traditional civil architecture and other historic structures. İskilip has a deep settlement history stretching back to the Hittite period and developed into an important cultural center during the Seljuk and Ottoman eras. For more extensive information about the historic fabric of the district, you can refer to the History of İskilip page.
Visitors to İskilip can see the other historic structures in the district along with the Ulu Mosque. Among the nearby points of interest are the Şeyh Muhiddin Yavsi Mosque and the Yeni Mosque, both important places of worship in the district, as well as the Sinan Paşa Bath, one of its traditional water structures.
ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.