Cizre Ulu Camii

Cizre Ulu Camii is a historic mosque located in the Cizre district of Şırnak Province, Türkiye, in the Mountain Door Neighborhood, on place land. Surrounded by roads on all four sides, this building has reached the present day through various additions and repairs carried out in different periods. The mosque’s origins date back to 639, when it was converted from a church following Cizre’s acceptance of Islam. Throughout history, it was destroyed and restored during the Abbasids period, and in 1160 it was rebuilt by Emir Ali Sencer, son of Cizre Bey Baz Şah.

Cizre Ulu Camii (Cizre Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

History

The mosque’s origins extend to 639, when, following Cizre’s acceptance of Islam, a church was converted into a mosque. However, no definitive information exists regarding its original structure. During the Abbasid period, the mosque was destroyed and subsequently restored. In 1160, it was comprehensively rebuilt by Emir Ali Sencer, son of Cizre Bey Baz Şah. According to inscriptions, the foundation stones were laid between 1155 and 1156 by Cizre Zengid Atabeg Abu’l-November Mahmud Sencer Shah. Inscriptions also indicate that in 1284, Ali, another son of Baz Şah, carried out repairs. The minaret was constructed in 1156 in a four-cornered form.

Over time, the mosque underwent numerous restorations. In 1945, it was restored by master mason Mahmut through the efforts of Sheikh Seyda; in the 1970s, it was repaired by the General Directorate of Foundations; and most recently, it was renovated in 2007 to reopen for worship.

Cizre Ulu Camii (Cizre Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Architectural Features

Cizre Ulu Camii is notable for its original architecture. The structure features columns built by stacking large stone slabs resembling millstones. These columns were reinforced with iron brackets to support the domes. The mosque’s minaret, constructed in 1156 in a four-cornered design, was restored twice: once between 1945 and 1946 and again in 1971.

The mosque’s doors carry significant artistic value. Above each door, verses and chapters from the Quran-ı Kerim are inscribed in Kufic script. The large iron door, adorned with silver motifs, copper inlays, and Kufic inscriptions, has been preserved at the Topkapı Palace Museum since 1983. Particularly noteworthy is the bronze door knocker from the 13th century, a world-renowned masterpiece of carving. This knocker, crafted by the physicist and engineer Ismail Abu’l-İz al-Jazari, features dragon figures with pointed ears, almond-shaped eyes, and wings, with a stylized lion head at their center. The dragons’ bodies are covered in scale-like patterns, and their tails are intertwined in the shape of eagle heads. One of these artifacts has been exhibited since 1976 at the Turkish and Museum of Islamic Art, while the other was stolen in 1969 and taken to the David Samling Museum in Copenhagen.

Cizre Ulu Camii (Cizre Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Cultural and Religious Significance

Cizre Ulu Camii holds great religious and cultural importance. Its conversion from a church to a mosque in 639 is regarded as a symbol of the region’s Islamization. The mosque bears the imprint of Islamic states such as the Abbasids, Zengids, and the Beylik of Cizre, reflecting the architectural and artistic sensibilities of different eras. Artifacts such as the door knocker draw attention with their figurative details, rare in Islamic art, and highlight the genius of Abu’l-İz al-Jazari. Furthermore, Kufic inscriptions and Qur’anic verses reinforce the mosque’s religious identity. Cizre’s historical role as a center of civilization further elevates the mosque’s status as a cultural heritage.

Cizre Ulu Camii (Cizre Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Conservation Status and Restorations

Cizre Ulu Camii has suffered various damages throughout history but has survived due to successive restoration efforts. Restoration initiatives began during the Abbasid period and continued with repairs carried out by Ali, son of Baz Şah, in 1284. In the 20th century, it was restored in 1945–1946 under the initiative of Sheikh Seyda, again in 1971, and most recently in 2007 by the General Directorate of Foundations. While the prayer hall has been preserved through these efforts, the west, east, and northern sections of the complex still require restoration. The theft of one door knocker and the transfer of the large iron door to the museum represent protective measures taken for the artifact’s preservation. Today, the mosque remains open for worship, but further efforts are needed to restore the entire complete complex.

Artistic and Historical Heritage

One of the mosque’s most striking features is its artistic artifacts. The door knocker by Abu’l-İz al-Jazari is one of the rare examples of figurative motifs in Islamic art and is recognized at a world scale. Kufic-inscribed epigraphs demonstrate the mosque’s place within 12th and 13th century Islamic art. Moreover, the various restorations carried out over time serve as a historical record reflecting Cizre’s evolving political and cultural landscape.