In 1458, following the conquest of Athens, Ottoman rule prioritized establishing stability within the area. Alongside administrative reforms, optics performed an important function in cementing Ottoman authority. The Islamization of the newly acquired lands led to the emergence of unseen architectural designs, basically altering the on a regular basis experiences of the native Greek inhabitants. On the core of this evolution was the event of mosques.
Town's fundamental mosque was strategically positioned atop the Acropolis, repurposing the Parthenon, whereas a number of smaller mosques had been constructed close by. The one Mosque outdoors central Athens was constructed seven miles north within the settlement of Kifisias, which was common within the Ottoman period as a retreat.
Though the exact development date of the Kifisias Mosque stays debated, historic information point out its existence in 1667. Again then, Kifisia was a quaint village boasting 300 homes, with a various inhabitants break up evenly between Muslims and Christians. This mosque, on a website that was beforehand a Christian church honoring Saint Pareskevi, stood prominently close to the settlement's fountain and a number of other small Christian chapels.
Within the coronary heart of the mosque stood a sq. prayer corridor, topped by a small dome, whereas a sheltered portico adorned the northwestern aspect with its small hemispherical vaults. A minaret graced the western nook, the mihrab at the focus of the southwestern wall, and to its proper stood the pulpit.
Following the Ottoman defeat by the Greeks in 1824, the mosque fell sufferer to pillage by the hands of the rebellious Greeks. Subsequently, the mosque transitioned into the possession of the fashionable Greek state, discovering new function as a gendarmerie and barracks. Within the Nineties, the mosque met its demise, being demolished together with all different Ottoman constructions within the space.
In 2022, restoration works had been carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attika to protect the remaining construction. In the present day, solely a small part of the southwestern wall and the bottom of the minaret are nonetheless intact. Moreover, a barracks wall, located between the minaret base and the adjoining constructing, stays standing, providing a glimpse into the previous and showcasing a close-by Roman grave monument.
