Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia

Comparative Analysis of the Use of Natural Light in the Medieval Period Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Anatolia

A comparative analysis of natural light use in five medieval wooden hypostyle mosques—Afyonkarahisar Great Mosque, Ankara Arslanhane Mosque, Kastamonu Mahmut Bey Mosque, Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque, and Sivrihisar Great Mosque—reveals distinct spatial atmospheres shaped by functional, sacred, and poetic light types. Functional light dominates in three mosques, emphasizing utility, while sacred and poetic light create spiritually evocative or aesthetically refined interiors in the remaining two. The study, focusing on UNESCO-listed sites, evaluates light distribution, duration, function, focus, and quality to demonstrate how design choices influence perceptual experiences in religious spaces.