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Tour in the North
Religious Sites
SALAHUDIN:
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SAMARRA GREAT MOSQUE:
A dominating, magnificent structure, which was
once the largest mosque in Islamic world. It was built by Al-Mutawakkil
in A.D. 852 from bricks and clay. It has a rectangular plan measuring
240 x 160 meters, with walls 10 meters high, 2.65 m thick, supported by
44 towers. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides by an arcade, the
greatest part of which was the one facing Mecca.
The mosque minaret is the Malwiya (“the spiral”) that rises, 27
meters away from the northern side of the mosque, to a height
of 52 meters. Some historians believe that it predates the
mosque and that it was built by Al-Mu’tasim.
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THE ASKARI SHRINE:
Where the two imams Ali Al-hadi and his son
Hassan Al-askari are entombed under a golden dome 68 meters in
circumference, with two golden minarets 36 meters high.
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ABU DULUF MOSQUE:
Samarra was penetrated by a very long axial
street called Al-Adham (‘the greatest”), at the end of which, 22 kms
away from the modern city, are the remnants of a large mosque still
mostly extant. It was built by Al-Mutawakkil to look like a smaller
version of the Great mosque, including the Mulwiya” minaret. The pointed
arches of the mosque’s supports form the only difference in the look of
the two mosques. Measuring 215.5 x 138 m, it has a beautiful courtyard.
The minaret is 19 m high.
MOUSUL:
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MUJAHIDI MOSQUE:
It dates back to the 12th century A.D. and is
distinguished for its beautiful dome and elaborately wrought “Mihrab”.
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UMAYYAD MOSQUE:
The first ever in the city, it was built by Utba bin
Farqad Al salami after he conquered Mosul in the reign of Omar bin Al
khattab. The only part still extant is the minaret.
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THE GREAT MOSQUE:
Built by Nuriddin zangi in A.D. 1172, it is famed
for its remarkably bent minaret. 52 meters high, done in elaborate
brick-work and called Al hadba (the humped).
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THE MOSQUE OF PROPHET JONAH:
An old mosque popularly believed to be
burial place of Jonah, as it is built on one of the mounds that rise
over the ruins of Nineveh.
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THE MOSQUE OF PROPHET JERJIS:
Believed to be the burial place of
Prophet Jerjis, it is difficult to date exactly. The last time it was
renovated was A.D. 1393.
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MASHAD YAHYA ABUL KASSEM:
On the right bank of Tigris, known for its
conical dome, decorative brickwork and calligraphy engraved in Mosul
blue marble. 13th century.
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THE CHURCH OF SIMON PETER:
The oldest Chaldean church in Mosul
believed to have been built in the 13th century.
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CHURCH OF AL TAHIRA (THE IMMACULATE):
Near Bash Tapa probably the
remnants of the church of the Upper Monastery. Reconstructed last in
1743.
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CHURCH OF ST. THOMAS:
One of the oldest historical churches, its
present structure suggests a 13th century style.
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THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH:
Built by the Dominican fathers in Nineveh
Street in 1893.
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ST. GEORGE’S MONASTERY:
To the north of Mosul. Most probably built
late in the 17th century. Pilgrims from different parts of the north
visit it annually in the spring, when many people also go out to its
environs on holidays.
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ST. ELIJAH’S MONASTERY:
To the south of Mosul.
Some distance away from the city there are other monasteries, notably.
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THE MONASTERY OF ST. MATTI:
At the top of Mount Maqloub, it dates
back to the 4th century A.D.
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ST. BEHNAM’S MONASTERY:
Also called deir al-jubb (the cistern
monastery), in the Nineveh plain near Nimrud. 12th or 13th century.
ARBIL:
A. Al mudhaffariya minaret:
Arbil flourished again in the Islamic times.
The minaret was called after its governor Mudhaffarudin (died A.D.
1132). Belonging to a large mosque no more extant, its decorative
brickwork is rather similar to that of the Nurid Mosque in Mosul and
Dakouk.
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