Ottoman Athens and the Parthenon Mosque (Osmanl Atina's)

[forummurat]

Ottoman Athens and the Parthenon Mosque

In 1456 the Ottomans reach Athens and conquer the city peacefully with the capitulation of Duke Acciaiuoli in 1458. Sultan Mehmed II reaches the city in August and admires the ancient citadel. Contrary to the westerners, the Turks show bigger respect to the city. They do not plunder the monuments neither they harm them. Only some changes took place in the Parthenon with the addition of a minaret, for the transformation into a mosque and in the Erechtheum which was used for accommodating the harem.

The surface of the Acropolis was covered by many houses were the Turkish families, the garrison and the commander resided. Due to its importance as a fortress, the entrance to the Acropolis was denied to christians unless they had a special license.

The monuments of the Acropolis and mainly the Parthenon used to stand almost intact since the antiquity. In the 17th century, however, two destructions were caused. A lightning caused an explosion in the Propylaea where gunpowder was stored, in 1640.

The next gunpowder magazine became the Parthenon. During the siege of the Venetians, under the command of the future Doge Francesco Morosini, a canon shell fell in the Parthenon and caused a huge explosion, in the night of September 26, 1687.

The Turks built immediately afterwards a smaller mosque in the ruins of the Parthenon which was demolished in 1844 along with all the houses. The big medieval tower in the Propylaea was demolished in 1875.

*********************************************************************

AND NOW
Athens is also the only European capital
without a single mosque for Muslims!

 

[forummurat]

Greek group appeals against plans
to build mosque in Athens

A group of Greeks that includes bishops, academics and military officers have appealed against a parliamentary bill that will allow the construction of a mosque in the Greek capital.

According to the Greek press, a petition submitted to the Council of State in December was signed by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, as well as a university professor, naval officers and five residents of the area in which the mosque is planned to be built. The appeal argues that the construction of a mosque would be in violation of the constitution and harmful for national unity. It also cites the high cost of the building project in the face of Greece's financial crisis.

Known for his far-right views, Seraphim said the bill constituted an anti-Christian action and described it as disrespectful to Christian martyrs. He went on to condemn the Greek parliament for approving such a bill.

The controversial bill was passed in 2006 under the New Democracy party government. Renewed debate over the construction of the mosque began in November after the former Papandreou government made a commitment to complete the project by spring 2012, according to the Greek press.

Although the municipal government of Athens gave the permission required for the mosque to be constructed in 2006, the project remains unfinished due to ongoing resistance. Navy officers have refused to vacate a disused naval base in Athens' Votanikos district, where the mosque is planned to be built.

Athens is unique among the capital cities of the original 15 member states of the EU in that it does not have a dedicated mosque. Until now, Muslims in Greece have been worshipping in makeshift mosques in basement apartments, coffee shops, garages and old warehouses.

Debate over the construction of a mosque in Athens is not unprecedented. Several resolutions on this issue have been discussed by the Greek parliament since 1939 and a further, draft bill was approved in 2000. However, Muslims in Athens have not enjoyed access to a dedicated mosque due to opposition by the church and previous governments. The cost of the project is estimated to reach up to 16 million euros, according to the 2006 parliamentary bill.

Source: Greek group appeals against plans to build mosque in Athens

 

[silko]

and why isn't this Democratic EU supporting Muslims in their stand for a place of worship in one of the union countries? if it was Turkey europens would flow with "ooohhh you muslims, can't expect anything else from you..." but when it is Greece they suddenly become silent.

where is the religious freedom now? bunch of hypocrits, and i cant believe a racist country like Greece is allowed into EU while Turkey is prejudiced by all the other EU states.

 

[rubyjackass]

Known for his far-right views, Seraphim said the bill constituted an anti-Christian action and described it as disrespectful to Christian martyrs. He went on to condemn the Greek parliament for approving such a bill.

Which event is he talking about? Was there any popular event with Christian martyrdom? Or is he talking about the crusades?

 

[silko]

Which event is he talking about? Was there any popular event with Christian martyrdom? Or is he talking about the crusades?

isn't it obvius, he has the "Turk syndrom".

 

[A1Kaid]

I really wished the Ottomans had held the city of Athens and the SE Europe. Turkiye today would have several European capitals under its territory. Making visiting Turkiye even more exciting. Ottomans should have better integrated the territories under their control.

 

[forummurat]

Under Ottoman rule, many Greeks converted to Islam.
Here, "Young Greeks at the Mosque," by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1865.

Source: NOVA | Secrets of the Parthenon | The Parthenon's Many Lives image 4 | PBS

 

[Cerian]

Under Ottoman rule, many Greeks converted to Islam.
Here, "Young Greeks at the Mosque," by Jean-Leon Gerome, 1865.

Source: NOVA | Secrets of the Parthenon | The Parthenon's Many Lives image 4 | PBS

Most of the Muslim population in Balkans was forced to immigrate to Anatolia. They didn't know Turkish, but they were deported as Turks, because at the time, all Muslims in Balkans considered to be Turks.

 

[RazPaK]

I find the image above to be weird. Never seen women praying at a mosque, especially one with men?

 

[forummurat]

PARTHENON (İÇKALE) MOSQUE

General view of the Acropolis during the first years of Ottoman Rule. The Parthenon is converted into a mosque and the whole surface is covered by houses.

The Parthenon after the conversion into a mosque with the minaret in the southwest corner.

View from the west.

Part of the Acropolis from the north. Cannons were positioned all around the walls for better defense. On the left is the Erechtheum and in the background the Parthenon as a mosque.

View of the Acropolis after 1687. The Propylaea and the Parthenon have suffered severe damages from the explosions.

The destroyed Propylaea were used as a cannon battlement.

The small mosque inside the Parthenon's ruins.

Another view of the mosque. It was demolished in 1844.

 

[amalakas]

Another view of the mosque. It was demolished in 1844.

and rightly so.

I don't mind mosques in Greece, muslims should have their temples. But building one, that is another story. In the UK, mosques are simple converted buildings, and everyone is happy, why should a proper mosque be build in Greece? what is so special there??

---------- Post added at 02:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:26 PM ----------

I really wished the Ottomans had held the city of Athens and the SE Europe. Turkiye today would have several European capitals under its territory. Making visiting Turkiye even more exciting. Ottomans should have better integrated the territories under their control.

really??? you don't say...!!

 

[Marxist]

Which event is he talking about? Was there any popular event with Christian martyrdom? Or is he talking about the crusades?

may be about Constantine XI Palaiologos

 

[forummurat]

Church and Mosque side by side in Istanbul

I suppose Muslim population of Athens with Christian population of Istanbul are almost equal.
Perhaps Istanbul can be more than 2-fold..
There is 50 church in Istanbul at least for christians to worship freely since 559 years.. Proudly !!!
This is our civilization understanding..
Mosques, churches, synagogues side by side in Turkish Lands since 1000 years..
What about Athens as the Europe civilization center !!! ?

A Greek Church in Istanbul

Church and Mosque side by side in Istanbul

Mosque, Church and Synagogue side by side in Antalya

 

[amalakas]

Church and Mosque side by side in Istanbul

I suppose Muslim population of Athens with Christian population of Istanbul are almost equal.
Perhaps Istanbul can be more than 2-fold..
There is 50 church in Istanbul at least for christians to worship freely 559 years.. Proudly !!!
This is our civilization understanding..
Mosques, churches, synagogues side by side in Turkish Lands since 1000 years..
What about Athens as the Europe civilization center !!! ?

A Greek Church in Istanbul

I will try and take this seriously, although I have to try a lot not to laugh at your argument.

you are looking at this from a "buildings only" point of view.

besides, Istambul ( funny name, do you know where it comes from ? does it have an etymology in turkish? )
has been standing there for 1600 years or so and the people who built it (not turks) have build churches.
Do you want a bravo for not demolishing them all ? is that your sign of culture ?
you can have it from me then, bravo for not demolishing and vandalising all churches like you did with Agia Sofia.

as far as Athens, it never had any significant amount of mosques.

 

[silko]

I will try and take this seriously, although I have to try a lot not to laugh at your argument.

you are looking at this from a "buildings only" point of view.

besides, Istambul ( funny name, do you know where it comes from ? does it have an etymology in turkish? )
has been standing there for 1600 years or so and the people who built it (not turks) have build churches.
Do you want a bravo for not demolishing them all ? is that your sign of culture ?
you can have it from me then, bravo for not demolishing and vandalising all churches like you did with Agia Sofia.

as far as Athens, it never had any significant amount of mosques.

you know that Hagi Sophia had major faults and that the couple of it was about to break down...

the Ottoman architects reconstructed the couple and look at it, for over 500 years it still stands intact.

what Forummurat probably tries to say is that even under Ottoman rule the Greeks had all the freedom to practice their religion and now some cleric priest or whatever comes and says "it's a disgrace against the 'Christian martyrs' who fought for us"? WTF is that even supposed to mean?

it is truely unbelieveable that this guy holds so much power in a 'democratic' country. why isn't EU pressuring the Greek government to get rid of this issue. if a Muslim imam had made the same statement EU would be quick to condemn such a "hideous attack on religious freedom" but when the issue is Greece... 'meh'!

ohh and just so you know, Istanbul wasn't the first name of the city after we conquered it. it was Islambol, "city of Islam". then later on it was renamed to Istanbul, not Islambul!