Akhmedia Mosque
One of the centerpieces of Rabati Castle is Akhmedia Mosque. It was built by and named after Ahmed Pasha Jaqeli in 1752, deploying the services of Italian architects. Ahmed Pasha Jaqeli was the governor of Akhaltsikhe from 1745 to 1758. Legend has it that the mosque was actually erected by Georgian architects, who tried to imitate the Aya Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul and were therefore sentenced to death.
Akhmedia Mosque was built on the ruins of a Christian temple, but still Ahmed Pasha gave the new mosque a few Christian elements, like the 12 windows, symbolizing the 12 apostles of Christ. He also established a Muslim theological school, called madrasa, and a library.
The Christian roots of the Jaqeli family go back to the time before the Ottoman invasion in the mid-16th century. But when the Turks conquered the region in 1578, the princes of the Jaqeli family accepted the new religion, converted to Islam and became governors of the Turkish empire.
Later, in the 1820s, when a joint Georgian-Russian army led by General Paskevich captured the fortress, the mosque was once again converted back into a church.
The mosque is built with thick stone ashlars and pillars, supporting the vast building. The minaret, the praying tower placed directly on one of the corners of the main building, has the same height as the dome of the mosque with its beautiful golden roof.
Speaking of which, the golden roof was part of extensive restoration works in the years 2011 and 2012 and experts are still discussing its historical correctness.
Nevertheless, visitors to the mosque admire the interior, especially the mosaics, which are practically preserved in their original form, including an eight-pointed star as a symbol of Islam.
And to much of the visitors’ surprise, a lot of artifacts, mostly of Christian origin, are on display, playing an important role as silent witnesses of the building’s colourful past.
Picture credits: Cultural Department of Akhaltsikhe Municipality (SJDC)
Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.
