“Built on the site of a previous church dedicated to the Savior” I can almost hear the echoes of chants from different eras. We are standing before the Hamza Bey Mosque. It is a historical Ottoman-era mosque. The Hamza Bey Mosque is on the Aegean island of Rhodes. It is one of the simpler mosques on the island.
The Hamza Bey Mosque is not open for worship today. Most Rhodes mosques are closed now. The Ibrahim Pasha Mosque is an exception. Let’s delve into the details of this historic structure.
The Hamza Bey Mosque was likely built in 1887. It is located southwest of the Suleymaniye Mosque. It’s also east of the Mustafa Pasha Mosque. All are within Rhodes’ medieval walled town. The Hamza Bey Mosque has a square floor plan. Its vaults are covered with a dome. Round triangles support the dome. Concave and convex tiles roof the structure.
The minaret stands on the northwestern corner. Look up to spot it. The central chandelier features a Mühr-ü Süleyman motif. The mihrab’s center shows an oil lamp motif. Take a closer look to observe these details.
A wood canopy covered with sheet metal forms the open porch. Each internal wall has two windows. There is a rectangular wardrobe in the middle of each wall. The praying-niche stands in the middle of the eastern wall.
Renovation works began in 2004. These focused on the minaret. The inner decoration received particular attention. The municipality considers the Hamza Bey Mosque to be fully restored today. The Hamza Bey Mosque stands as a testament to Rhodes’ diverse past. Its presence enriches the cultural tapestry of the island. It is small but significant.