| Egyptian Journal of Archeological and Restoration Studies

Authors:
Ameen, A. ¹ & Hagras, H. <sup>2

1</sup> Humanities and Social Sciences dept., College of Arts, Sharjah Univ. of, Sharjah, UAE
² Islamic Archaeology dept., Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum Univ., Fayoum, Egypt.

Abstract:
The patronage and construction date of the Zincirli mosque in Serres, Greece have long been contested. This interdisciplinary study integrates historical inquiry, architectural analysis, and dendrochronological dating to re-evaluate the mosque’s origins. Through archival research, detailed on-site documentation, and comparative stylistic assessment, this investigation clarifies the mosque’s position in Ottoman architectural history. Dendrochronology indicates the felling date of timber used in its construction as 1492 CE. However, the mosque’s architectural form—notably its domed prayer hall set within an octagonal drum, multi-tiered portico, and projecting mihrab apse—closely aligns with a corpus of 16th-century mosques attributed to the school of the chief imperial architect Mimar Sinan. Furthermore, its construction exhibits a distinctive synthesis of classical Ottoman planning and Byzantine masonry techniques, notably in the application of cloisonné. This hybrid character, combined with the monument’s imposing scale and refined craftsmanship, suggests patronage by a high-ranking Ottoman official or member of the dynastic family around the mid-16th century. The discrepancy between the scientific date and the architectural evidence is plausibly resolved by the common practice of timber reuse. As the earliest known example of this mature Ottoman architectural synthesis in Greece, the Zincirli mosque represents a significant milestone in the evolution of imperial mosque design and underscores the complex cultural interactions that shaped the built environment of the Ottoman Balkans. This research demonstrates the value of interdisciplinary methodologies in resolving longstanding art historical debates.

Keywords:
Ottoman architecture Zincirli mosque Selçuk sultân Serres (Siroz) Mimar Sinan Dendrochronology

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