The Aslanhane Mosque in Ankara is an ancient mosque that is characterised by its unusual architecture and sturdy structure. The mosque has many names among the people, but most often it is called the Lion House, as there are statues of lions on the wall that adjoins the mosque and belongs to the grave complex. It is located near the fortress of Hisar. It was built by the Seljuks in the 18th century on the territory of the former Roman cathedral.
All Seljuk buildings are of interest to modern historians and scientists, as they were characterised not only by visual beauty and harmony of architecture, but also by extraordinary durability, which helps to resist time. The main builder of the mosque was Ahi Sherafeddin, the head of the Ahi religious brotherhood. The mosque is often called by his name, and his mausoleum is located opposite the temple. The construction used architectural details, especially in the design of the supporting structure, which are characteristic of the Roman and Byzantine eras, and also used building materials from the ruins of former temples, for example, white marble in the decoration of the gates. The Seljuk origin of the mosque is confirmed by the presence of a classical mihrab with fine enamel decoration on the walls. There is also a minbar inside, finished with walnut carvings.
The mosque has a distinctive feature - a vault resting securely on twenty-four columns, decorated with wood carvings, creating an extraordinary impression of the interior. The mosque has a large number of different niches decorated with carvings. The mosque is also called the Forest Mosque due to its abundant wooden decoration. The temple is also remarkable because it has preserved the old dervish abode called tekke. The minarets of the mosque used to be decorated with blue tiles, as evidenced by the preserved wall fragments. Thanks to this decorative element, one can imagine how grandiose the mosque was in ancient times.
