Bekdemir Çivisiz Camii is a mosque constructed entirely of wood, located in the village of Bekdemir in the Kavak district of Samsun, Türkiye. As an example of Ottoman-era architecture, the structure was built using the stacking technique without nails.

_{(Bekdemir Çivisiz Camii - Türkiye Kültür Portalı)}

History

The mosque's main floor is known to have been built in 1596, while the gallery floor was added in 1599. Initially, it was constructed in a different location within the village, inside a cemetery by a stream, but was later dismantled and relocated to its current site. In 1877, the interior decorations were renewed, and handcrafted motifs were applied using natural dyes.

Architectural Features

Built as a two-story structure, the mosque has a nearly square floor plan. Three of its façades, except for the south, are surrounded by porticos, with the entrance portico on the north side being notably spacious. The entrance to the prayer hall is through a double-winged, ornately decorated door located at the center of the northern façade. Natural light enters the interior through windows arranged in two levels on the façades.

The mosque's mihrab and minbar are original, adorned with decorative elements such as floral motifs, oil lamps, flowers emerging from vases, rosettes, and palmettes. The ceiling consists of concentric rectangular frames that deepen inward, culminating in a circular medallion within an octagonal frame at the center.

The mosque's wooden craftsmanship is particularly evident in the mihrab, mihrab wall, minbar, gallery, ceiling, and entrance door. The structure was built using interlocking oak planks. A stone fountain is located in the mosque’s courtyard.

_{(Bekdemir Çivisiz Camii - Türkiye Kültür Portalı)}

Inscriptions

Various inscriptions can be found inside and outside the mosque. Above the entrance door, there is a prayer beginning with the Basmala, written in green paint. Inside the prayer hall, on the upper part of the mihrab wall, there is an inscription reading "Maşallah Nakkaş Said 1293" (1876). Another inscription contains the phrase "Sahibu'l-hayrat ve'l-hasenat el Hacı Abdurrahman," suggesting that this individual was either the benefactor of the mosque or responsible for its reconstruction. Additionally, circular medallions bearing the names of Allah, Muhammad, and the Four Caliphs as well as an image of a clock are found on the mihrab wall.

_{(Bekdemir Çivisiz Camii - Türkiye Kültür Portalı)}

Usage and Restoration

Bekdemir Çivisiz Camii has remained in use for worship for many years. Over time, bees built hives in the mihrab, and the honey produced there was sold to fund the mosque’s upkeep. However, during restoration, the section where bees entered was sealed, halting honey production.

The restoration process, conducted by the Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü, prioritized preserving the original motifs painted with natural dyes inside the mosque. Located along the Samsun Kavak-Asarcık road, the mosque is open to visitors.