Piri Mehmet Paşa Mosque is one of the early Ottoman complex mosques located southeast of Aziziye Mosque in Karatay district of Konya. Built with cut stone and rubble stone materials, the building bears the characteristic features of classical Ottoman architecture with its square-plan harim, single dome with trumpet transition, three-eyed last congregation place and zaviye-tabhane unit. Together with the Mevlevi matbah, zaviye-madrasah, bathhouse and Siyavuş Pasha Tomb around the mosque, it forms the integrity of the complex; in this respect, it is a remarkable representative of the examples of mosques with tabhane-zaviye in Konya.

^{Exterior View, Piri Mehmet Paşa Mosque (Visit Karatay, Karatay Municipality)}

Piri Mehmet Paşa Mosque was built in 1523 by Piri Mehmet Paşa, who was the vizier of the Kanûnî Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent and also held important state positions during the reign of Yavuz Sultan Selim. The building inscription of the building is located in the Bursa arched niche above the entrance door and documents the date of construction.

Architectural Features

The building was designed as a complex together with the zaviye-tabhane section to the west. This complex consists of a mosque, zaviye-madrasa, Mevlevi matbah, bathhouse and mausoleum. With its plan and layout features, the mosque is one of the examples in Konya of the tabhane-zaviye mosque type, which is widely seen in early Ottoman architecture. Siyavuş Pasha Tomb is located to the east of the mosque.

Rough masonry and rubble stone were used as basic materials in its construction, and the corners were reinforced with cut stone. The arches were built with cut stone workmanship, and the arch necks are decorated with floral motifs. Column capitals are decorated with muqarnas ornaments typical of classical Ottoman architecture. In the harim section, the wall and dome surfaces are unadorned.

The plaster mihrab is decorated with intense geometric and floral motifs. The wooden pulpit is not original but new. The base of the minaret is made of stone and the body of the minaret is made of brick, and brick workmanship in the form of a spiked eaves is seen under the nave.

^{Interior View (Sahipata Museum)}

Piri Mehmet Paşa Neighborhood and Social Fabric

The neighborhood where the mosque is located is referred to in historical records as “Zaviye-i Piri Paşa” or popularly known as “Tekke Neighborhood”. In the 1584 records, there are 56 taxpayers in the neighborhood and the neighborhood is mentioned together with Alaca Mescit. This shows that part of the neighborhood was also known as Alaca Mescit. In the dividend records of 1847-48, nine taxpayers were taxed under the name “Mahalle-i Piri Paşa”.

Over time, Piri Mehmet Paşa Neighborhood became a settlement where prominent families of Konya lived. Among the important personalities who lived in the neighborhood are names such as Lawyer Tevfik Efendi, Mayor Hacı Şerif Efendi, Pharmacist Hüsamettin Bey, Fahrettin Bey, Edip Raşit Usman, teacher Übeyde (Ünal) Hoca Hanım and Dentist Ali Tiryaki.

Playing instruments such as lute, violin, kanun and piano became a common cultural activity among women in the neighborhood. Women such as Ms. Şükriye, Ms. Rahime and Ms. Münire are among the names that continue this cultural tradition. Today, the neighborhood has become a commercial area and its historical texture has not been preserved to a great extent.