What I can see

The Tzistarakis Mosque (or “Lower Bazaar”, “Lower Fountain” and “Kousournas” mosque) today operates as an annex of the Museum of Moden Greek Art. The ground floor houses tourist shops with illegal shading and air conditioning units, which have been placed with the tolerance of the state and interfere with the character of the monument. It is a square building with two levels, and the mosque is on the second floor, which has a hemispherical dome with an octagonal base.

What I can't see

According to the “Chronicle of Anthimos”, in order to build the mosque, the voivode Tzistarakis used lime, which came from “a column from that of Hadrian”, considering that he refers to a column from the temple of Olympian Zeus. It is more probable, however, that the voivode knocked down a column from the nearby Library of Hadrian. The Ottomans generally avoided damaging ancient monuments because they considered such acts sacrilegious and feared demons would be released. Indeed, an outbreak of the plague happened in Athens soon after Tzistarakis’ act and the Sultan removed him from his post. Following the Greek fight for independence, the use of the building changed several times (barracks, prison, warehouse). During the 2000’s, a discussion started on a possible reopening of the mosque, a fact that would meet Greece’s official obligation to build legitimate places of worship for its Muslim population. The centrality of the location and popularity of the square, coupled with reactions from some quarters arguing that the physiognomy of the historical centre would subsequently deteriorate, led to a postponement of the project. A decision was finally made to build a mosque in the western centre (Eleonas), an area with few homes, thus preventing a “ghettoization” of Muslim migrants.

Info

• Address: 1 Areos and Pandrosou St.

Bibliography