Great Mosque of Sanaa
The Great Mosque of Sana'a (Arabic: الجامع الكبير بصنعاء, al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr bi-Ṣanʿāʾ) is an ancient mosque in Sana'a, Yemen, and one of the oldest mosques in the world. The mosque is said to have been founded in the early Islamic period, suggested to be in 633. While the precise date of construction is unknown, the earliest recorded renovations occurred under Caliph al-Walid I in the early 8th century, implying a possible earlier date of construction. The mosque was reportedly built in part from spolia from the Himyarite-era Ghumdan Palace and from the Axumite Christian Church of al-Qalis that formerly occupied the site. The Great Mosque is the largest and most notable of over one hundred mosques in the Old City of Sana’a.
| Great Mosque of Sanaa al-Jāmiʿ al-Kabīr bi-Ṣanʿāʾ | |
|---|---|
الجامع الكبير بصنعاء | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Province | Amanat Al-Asemah |
| Rite | Zaydism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | In use |
| Leadership | Initially Muhammad and later Umayyad caliph al-Walid I |
| Year consecrated | 7th–8th century |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Yemen |
| Municipality | Sanaa |
Shown within Yemen | |
| Geographic coordinates | 15.3531°N 44.2149°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Umayyad |
| Groundbreaking | 630 AD |
| Completed | Renovation 705 and 715 AD |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 80 m |
| Width | 60 m |
| Minaret(s) | Two |
| Materials | Brick and stone |
The building has undergone renovations in the 8th century, the 13th century, and in the Ottoman period. An important archaeological find was the Sana'a manuscript, discovered there during restoration in 1972. Today, the Great Mosque of Sana’a is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old City of Sana'a.