While many of the historical buildings, which have preserved their existence for centuries and covered an important part of our history, had difficulty in surviving in the painful earthquake that took place in Kahramanmaraş; Most of the buildings were badly damaged and demolished.
The Southeastern Anatolia Region, which dates back to the oldest known period of human history, is home to the most important historical structures that have survived to the present day. These important structures, each of which has a different story, These are the important and only ruins that shed light on our history.
Many of these rare structures, which have survived for thousands of years, are unfortunately could not resist the painful earthquake disaster that took place in our country. When we look at the structures of our wounded history, some of them could hardly stand, while others disappeared completely.
Adiyaman Great Mosque
This mosque, located in the center of Adıyaman, It was built by Dulkadirli Bey Durak Bey during the Dulkadiroğulları period in 1505-1515. Although the mosque regained its current shape in 1863, unfortunately, it could not protect itself in the earthquake.
Adiyaman Karakus Tumulus
This tumulus, located in Kahta district of Adıyaman and dating back to before Christ, is a mausoleum belonging to the Kingdom of Komagene. This structure, which was built as separate columns in the East, West and South directions It has survived as only 4 columns until today. Two of them are in the East and the other two are in the West. Researches show that this tumulus was built by Komagene King II. It is known to have been built by Mithridates. In the earthquake that occurred, the column of the reliefs of King Mithridates and his brother Laodice was destroyed.
Hatay Sari Selim Mosque
This mosque, which was built by Mimar Sinan in 1574 by Sokollu Mehmet Pasha; It has a complex consisting of a madrasa, primary school, arasta, inn, tabhane, soup kitchen, bath and fountain. The large dome covering the prayer area of the mosque was supported by two smaller domes. The covered bazaar of the complex is located between the caravanserai and the mosque. As we understand from the five-line inscription here, it was built between 1574 and 1575. The mosque, which is an example of the classical Ottoman architectural style of the 16th century, Its minaret was destroyed in the earthquake.
Adiyaman Kahta Castle
Kahta Castle was built as an administrative center as a summer capital during the Commagene period. It continued to exist throughout the Roman Period. Castle, It took its present form in the 1260s when the Mamluks ruled the region. Kahta was used until 1926 by being associated with Elazığ (Memuret-ül Aziz) as the district center until the Republican period. Now it is among the buildings that were slightly damaged in the earthquake.
Habib-i Neccar Mosque
The spiritual value of Habib-i Neccar is quite high, as it is known as the first mosque built within the borders of today’s Turkey. The mosque was built when Antakya fell into the hands of the Muslim Arabs in 638. Moreover Hz. It is said to be named after an Antiochian who first believed in Jesus’ apostles and died on this path. The mosque was heavily damaged in the earthquake.
Antakya Great Mosque
It is a beautiful example of Seljuk architecture. and the mosque in Hatay is thought to have been built by the Mamluks in the 16th century. The mosque is considered to be the oldest and largest mosque of Hatay. Unfortunately, the mosque was completely destroyed in the earthquake.
Gaziantep Castle
Gaziantep Castle It was first built as a watchtower on a hill during the Roman period. Although it took its current shape in the 6th century AD during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian, who is known as the “architect of the castle”, it is among the buildings that were badly damaged in the earthquake.
Historical Antep Houses
As a historical place damaged in the earthquake These houses located in Gaziantep, takes you on a historical journey that offers a glimpse into the old life of the city. Gaziantep’s Bey Mahallesi, where the houses are located, is a place where you can get away from the dark air, noise and density of the city and find yourself in a time tunnel and breathe. Many parts were damaged in the earthquake.
Gaziantep Bayazhan
Bayazhan, who has an important place in Gaziantep’s history, It was built in 1909 by the tobacconist Bayaz Ahmet Efendi. It was opened to the public in 2009 by being transformed into a museum exhibiting the culture and history of Gaziantep city by Gaziantep Municipality. The building was severely damaged by the earthquake.
Gaziantep Kurtulus Mosque
The building, which was originally built as the Church of the Virgin Mary (St. Mary) in 1892, It was used as a church and prison, and later converted into a mosque. The minarets and dome added to the building, which has become one of the largest mosques in Gaziantep, were destroyed in the earthquake.
Sanliurfa Great Mosque
The courtyard walls, columns, column capitals and bell towers of this building, which was built on the site of an old church named “Red Church” and whose construction date could not be determined, have survived to the present day. According to researchers, it is estimated that it was built by the Zengids between 1170-1175. After the Islamic conquests, it was also called Mescid-ül Hamra (Red Masjid) because of its relationship with the church and the red marble used in its columns. The minaret of the building was damaged in the last earthquake.
Sanliurfa Dervish Mosque
Dergah Mosque, also known as Mevlid-i Halil, Although it was built as a church in the early periods, It has undergone great changes until today. In the Ottoman Period, it took the form of Dergah Mosque in line with the instructions given by Muhammed Salih Pasha in 1523. The minaret of the mosque is among the structures damaged in the earthquake.
Kahramanmaras Grand Mosque
The mosque was built between 1442-1454 by Süleyman Bey, the ruler of Dulkadiroğlu Principality. It was damaged by the last earthquake, most of its minaret was destroyed.
Malatya New Mosque
The mosque, located in the city center of Malatya, It was built in 1843 by the scholar Hocazade Haci Yusuf. It was destroyed in the earthquake of March 2, 1893, which was called the ‘great earthquake’. Although only one minaret remains from this mosque, most of the mosque did not survive in the last earthquake.
Hatay Parliament Building
In the square known as Köprübaşı The building, commissioned by the French architect Leon Benju in 1927, It served as the parliament building from 1938 until the province of Hatay joined Turkey on 29 June 1939. Unfortunately, the building was destroyed by the earthquake.
Iskenderun Latin Catholic Church
Founded in Spain in the 16th century Members of the Sect of the Barefoot Carmelite Nuns, They came to Iskenderun in 1858 and started to build a new church. The church was renovated after a fire from 1888 to 1901. The place of worship was destroyed in the earthquake.
Hatay Long Bazaar
The bazaar, known as the heart of trade in HatayIt is located among the old Antakya houses and there are inns, baths and mosques. Part of the bazaar was damaged in the earthquake.
Darb-i Sak Castle
Darb-ı Sak Castle is recorded as the place where the Persian king Darius lived in 333 BC. The castle that Darius built against Alexander the Great before the Battle of Issus, Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Süleyman Shah conquered Antakya in 1084 after his conquest. It was one of the castles. However, with the earthquake, nothing remained.
Diyarbakir Walls
Diyarbakir walls, Byzantine Emperor II in 346. It was built during the reign of Constantine. However, due to the increase in the number of people coming to the city, the western part of the city walls passing through today’s Gazi Street. It was demolished between 367-375 and the city wall took its present form. Now, some of the walls have been damaged in the earthquake.
Malatya Sutlu Minaret (Cermik Mosque)
Anatolian Seljuk It was built by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I in 1224. The mosque, which is the first and only structure in Anatolia and named “Minaret with Milk” due to the whiteness of its stones, was damaged in the earthquake.
Hatay Sarimiye Mosque
The earthquake damaged historical buildings on Kurtuluş Street, known as the world’s first illuminated street. The Salmiye Mosque, which was found to be built in the 16th century, was also destroyed in the earthquake. The mosque, whose dome, minaret and some walls were destroyed, was covered with debris.
Enverul Hamid Mosque
in 1890 The mosque was built by Hacı Hüseyin Efendi and Hacı Bicik Efendi. It has a capacity of 3000 people and has stone walls and a concrete roof. It housed the mufti guesthouse and meeting hall, a well, a fountain, a toilet, a martyrdom and a minaret with a single balcony. Although it was restored in 1930, it was partially damaged in the Kahramanmaraş earthquake.
Malatya Teze Mosque
It was started to be built in Malatya in 1893 and In 1912, Sultan II. Completed with the support of AbdulhamidHaci Yusuf Tas Mosque, popularly known as “Teze Mosque”, was destroyed in the earthquake.
Antioch Protestant Church
During the French rule in Hatay, the embassy and Antioch Evangelical Church serving as the French Bankwas destroyed in the earthquake.
Antakya Ata College
Member of Parliament for Northern Syria in 1902 It was built by Bereketzade Rıfat Ağa. Istanbul was planned according to the palace type and was built to carry all the features of palaces. All exterior balcony and window models are of the Ottoman palace and stone carved balcony type. Stone and builders were brought from Aleppo. After Rıfat Ağa died of cholera in 1907, the mansion was completed in 1909. Now it is among the buildings that were heavily damaged in the earthquake.
Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch
The church, which was first built in wood, It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1872 and burned to the ground. The new building, which was built on the site of the burning church building, reflected a very beautiful example of Byzantine architecture with its stone carvings. The church was destroyed by the earthquake.
Historical Affan Coffee
Affan Kıraathanesi is located on the lower floor of a two-storey stone building built by Fuat Sahilli in 1911 and completed in 1913. During the construction of this building, which is the work of French architects and masons from Aleppo, A well filled with water from the Roman period discovered. The coffeehouse, which could not preserve its historical structure, was severely damaged in the earthquake.
What will happen to these damaged historical structures?
The expected statement about these destroyed and damaged historical buildings came from the Ministry of Culture and the Chamber of Architects. Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that all cultural assets in the earthquake-damaged regions will be restored in accordance with their original form by providing damage assessment. Stating that security teams were sent to the region in order to ensure the safety of the buildings, the Minister underlined that in addition to the teams formed by engineers, architects and lecturers from universities who are experts in antiquities, academic support will be received from universities for damage assessment.
“Our teams responded to the damaged points in museums and ruins in 11 cities without delay, as planned. Currently, we are performing damage assessments of our cultural assets in 10 cities with very large teams. Identification of structures affiliated to both the General Directorate of Foundations and the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage continues rapidly. We are already at the end.” (Ministry of Culture and Tourism press release)