The Four-Legged Minaret of Diyarbakır
- Mero Ranyayi
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
The Four-Legged Minaret is one of the most curious and beloved monuments of Diyarbakır — a minaret that stands not on solid walls but raised up on four slender stone columns, free of the mosque beside it, in the old walled city of Amed. Belonging to the Sheikh Matar Mosque and dating to around the year 1500, it is unique among the minarets of the region and a cherished landmark, rich in local lore. Built in the city’s characteristic dark and light stone, the Four-Legged Minaret is a small wonder of the old city and a symbol of its layered heritage.
A minaret poised on four legs in the heart of old Amed, this is one of Diyarbakır’s most distinctive sights. This profile looks at the minaret, its mosque, and its legends.
Key Takeaways
• The Four-Legged Minaret stands on four stone columns in old Diyarbakır.
• It belongs to the Sheikh Matar (Mutahhar) Mosque.
• It dates to around the year 1500, under Akkoyunlu rule.
• Its four columns are popularly linked to the schools of Sunni Islam.
• It is a uniquely distinctive landmark of the walled old city.
Quick Facts
Name: The Four-Legged Minaret (Dört Ayaklı Minare)
Kurdish: Minareya Çarling
Mosque: Sheikh Matar (Mutahhar) Mosque
Country / Region: Turkey (Bakur)
City: Diyarbakır (Amed)
Built: Around 1500
Unique Feature: Raised on four stone columns
Setting: The walled old city of Sur
Contents
Where Is the Minaret?
The Four-Legged Minaret stands in the heart of the old walled city of Diyarbakır — the district of Sur — not far from the city’s two main axial streets and close to its other great monuments, including the Great Mosque of Diyarbakır, all enclosed within the famous Walls of Diyarbakır. It rises beside the Sheikh Matar Mosque, near old churches of the city’s Christian community, in a quarter that embodies the multi-faith character of Amed.
A Minaret on Four Legs
What makes this minaret unique is its base: instead of rising from the ground or from the body of the mosque, it stands detached, lifted up on four short, thick stone columns, with open space beneath through which a person can walk. Above this unusual four-legged base rises a square tower and then a slimmer shaft, topped by a conical cap. No other minaret in the region is built quite like it, and the sight of the tower poised on its four legs has made it one of the most photographed and recognisable monuments of the old city.
The Sheikh Matar Mosque
The minaret belongs to the Sheikh Matar Mosque, also called the Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque, which takes its name from a holy man believed to be buried within its grounds. An inscription on the minaret dates it to around the year 1500, in the time of the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım, so that the mosque is sometimes also called after him. The prayer hall is a domed building of the classic regional type, but it is the detached minaret beside it that has always drawn the eye and given the mosque its fame across the city and beyond.
Legends and Meaning
The four columns of the minaret have gathered meaning and legend over the centuries. Local tradition holds that they symbolise the four great schools of Sunni Islam, standing together in unity, and a popular belief says that those who pass beneath the columns a certain number of times while making a wish will have it granted. Standing near old churches of the city, the minaret is also spoken of as a symbol of the coexistence of Diyarbakır’s many communities. Such stories have woven the monument deep into the life and identity of the city.
The Minaret Today
The minaret has not been untouched by the troubles of recent times: its columns were damaged during clashes that struck the old city in late 2015, a loss felt keenly by the people of Diyarbakır, and restoration work has since been undertaken to repair it. Despite this, the Four-Legged Minaret remains a treasured emblem of Amed, drawing visitors who come to see its unusual form and to walk beneath its columns. Poised on its four legs in the heart of the old city, it endures as one of the most distinctive and beloved monuments of the Kurdish region’s great city on the Tigris.
Timeline
around 1500 — The minaret is built beside the Sheikh Matar Mosque under the Akkoyunlu.
over the centuries — It becomes a beloved landmark wrapped in local legend.
1960 — The mosque undergoes a restoration.
2015 — The minaret’s columns are damaged in clashes in the old city.
today — Restored and cherished, it remains a symbol of old Amed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Four-Legged Minaret?
It is a unique minaret in old Diyarbakır that stands detached on four stone columns, belonging to the Sheikh Matar Mosque and dating to around the year 1500.
Where is it?
It stands in the walled old city (Sur) of Diyarbakır in south-eastern Turkey, near the city’s main streets and other great monuments.
Why does it have four legs?
The minaret is raised on four stone columns; local tradition links them to the four schools of Sunni Islam, and a popular belief involves making a wish while passing beneath them.
Was the minaret damaged?
Yes. Its columns were damaged during clashes in the old city in late 2015, and restoration work has since been carried out to repair this cherished monument.
Related People, Places, and Topics
The Akkoyunlu · the old city of Sur · minarets of the region · Diyarbakır · the Great Mosque of Diyarbakır · the Walls of Diyarbakır.
References and Further Reading
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