great mosque arabic known arabic largest oldest mosque located old city believed stand site ancient temple site byzantines erect church 5th century muslim conquest 7th century transformed mosque described beautiful arab 10th century toppled earthquake built cathedral dedicated john baptist destroyed rebuilt mosque early 13th century destroyed soon restored destroyed earthquake end century great mosque restored ottomans roughly years later severely damaged british bombardment world war mosque restored location great mosque situated quarter downtown eastern end southeast palestine square located adjacent south northeast east street girls school history byzantine era according tradition mosque stands site temple dedicated god fertility toppled book judges later temple dedicated god rain grain erected local legend today claims buried present mosque building constructed large byzantine church empress possible church built emperor based jewish inscription carved upper tier building columns suggested late 19th century upper pillars building brought 3rd century jewish discovery 6th century port 1960s local use column addition inscription column depicted surrounded decorative inscription read son jacob hebrew greek church appeared map mosaic created islamic era byzantine church transformed mosque 7th century generals early period rule mosque alternatively named honor muslim conquest palestine rule arab wrote great mosque beautiful mosque december earthquake caused pinnacle mosque collapse conquered built cathedral dedicated john baptist atop ruins church decree jerusalem william tyre descriptions grand churches mentioned today believed portions formed control destroyed cathedral reconstructed mosque 13th century destroyed rebuilt earthquake caused collapse extensive renovations centered undertaken governor din later governor city commissioned restoration great mosque finally rebuilt mosque completely muslim noted mosque existence fine friday mosque says mosque built inscriptions mosque bear signatures dated dated dated dated 16th century mosque restored apparent damage previous century ottomans commissioned restoration built city control palestine interior bears inscription ottoman governor brother deposed dating modern era western travelers late 19th century reported great mosque structure worthy historical architectural note severely damaged allied forces attacking ottoman positions world war british claimed ottoman munitions stored mosque destruction caused munitions ignited bombardment supervision mayor restored held mass demonstration involving local muslims christians great mosque order rally support elections participation government increase number people rally ordered quarters temporarily close ancient relief inscriptions jewish religious symbols allegedly away intentionally stage battle palestinian organizations mosque shot dead gunmen june retaliation killing official presidential guard earlier day mosque active serves emotional physical support base residents focal point palestinian pride architecture great mosque area square metres general structure constructed local marine sandstone known mosque forms large courtyard surrounded rounded arches later ottomans south southeastern sides building expanded door mosque inscription containing sultan inscriptions containing names interior building transformed mosque cathedral previous construction completely replaced mosque facade arched entrance typical piece ecclesiastical architecture columns mosque compound retain italian gothic style columns identified elements ancient reused construction material era forming mosque internally wall surfaces painted marble western door dome floors covered tiles columns marble capitals built style central nave groin vaulted bay separated pointed transverse arches rectangular profiles nave arcades carried piers engaged column face sitting raised mosque groin vaulted noted great mosque white marble pulpit exists today small mosque inscription dating containing governor ottoman rule mosque known square shaped lower half octagonal upper half typical architectural style constructed stone base upper hanging balcony including upper half pinnacle tiles frequently renewed simple springs octagonal stone drum light construction similar levant stands end eastern bay church transformed base
Great Mosque of Gaza