Klasik Dönem Osmanlı Camilerinde Kadın Mahfilleri: Erzurum Örneği

Abstract

Erzurum produced a rich architectural heritage during the Ottoman period thanks to its strategic location and historical continuity. Within this heritage, women’s galleries (kadın mahfilleri), one of the important components of mosque architecture, have been the subject of a limited number of studies at the regional and period-specific scale, although they reflect both the spatial configuration of the worship space and social arrangements. This study aims to examine comparatively the spatial characteristics of women’s galleries in the Classical Period Ottoman mosques in Erzurum. The sample of the research consists of Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque, Kemhan Mosque, Caferiye Mosque, and Cedit Mosque. The study was designed as a comparative analysis based on data obtained through fieldwork in which qualitative and quantitative methods were used together. In this context, the location of the galleries, their floor area, user capacity, access pattern and stair dimensions, state of authenticity, natural lighting conditions, and visual privacy arrangements were evaluated through on-site measurements and observations. As a result, the study reveals that women’s galleries in Classical Period Ottoman mosques constitute a fundamental architectural component shaped by multidimensional criteria such as access, privacy, lighting, and user comfort, rather than merely an “additional space.” It aims for the comparative data obtained from the Erzurum case to serve as a reference for future studies.