Located in the historic texture of Bursa, the Hodja Tabip (Aynalı) Mosque is a unique structure that blends Early Ottoman medical culture with traditional architectural styles.
History and Patron
The mosque was built in 1467 (872 AH) by Hodja Tabip Hüsnü Efendi, a physician and professor (müderris) at the Yıldırım Darüşşifa (Hospital/Medical School) during the reign of Sultan Murad II.
Originally constructed as a small neighborhood masjid (a prayer hall without a minbar), it was converted into a full mosque in the 17th century with the addition of a minbar to allow for Friday congregational prayers.
The Origin of the Name “Aynalı” (Mirrored)
The most distinctive feature setting this building apart from other Ottoman mosques in Bursa was its unique minaret ornamentation. Small mirrors and glass pieces were set in rows underneath the minaret balcony (şerefe). These reflected sunlight, creating a shimmering visual effect across the neighborhood and earning the building the popular moniker “Aynalı Camii” (The Mirrored Mosque). Unfortunately, these historic mirror elements were removed during a restoration in 1981.
Architectural Characteristics
- Plan Layout: The mosque features a rectangular layout extending along a north-south axis, consisting of two consecutive square spaces.
- Masonry Style: Built using the characteristic Early Ottoman alternating masonry technique (almaşık duvar), combining rows of cut stone and bricks.
- Roofing Structure: The main prayer hall (harim) is covered internally by a dome and externally by an octagonal drum topped with a tiled roof.
- Restoration History: After suffering damage over the centuries, the mosque underwent a major restoration in 1958 led by the Bursa Society of Lovers of Ancient Monuments (Bursa Eski Eserleri Sevenler Kurumu) to preserve its structural integrity.