Haci Bayram Mosque and the Temple of Augustus

A Mosque And Shrine Of The Sufi Saint Haci Bayram Veli, Built In 1427 And Rebuilt In The 18th Century, Set Beside The Ruins Of The Roman Temple Of Augustus With Its Famous Res Gestae Inscription. A Calm Religious And Roman Double Stop In The Old Part Of Ankara · Altindag, Ankara

Haci Bayram Mosque stands in the Ulus quarter of old Ankara, hard against the best preserved Roman monument in the city, the Temple of Augustus. The mosque is tied to Haci Bayram Veli, a Sufi saint of the 14th and 15th centuries who founded the Bayrami order and lies buried in the shrine beside the prayer hall (confirm dates). The present building was begun in 1427 and rebuilt in the 18th century, with a tiled interior, an open courtyard and a busy shrine that draws pilgrims from across Turkiye. The temple was raised for the emperor Augustus around 25 to 20 BC and later became a church, and its walls carry the Res Gestae, the emperor own account of his reign, cut in Latin and Greek (confirm). The two buildings share one small plot, so a short stroll takes in a living place of prayer and a Roman ruin at the same time. The mosque is still a working one, so dress modestly, take off your shoes and avoid prayer times. Plan about an hour here.

Haci Bayram Mosque, a 15th-century mosque and shrine beside the Roman Temple of Augustus in Ulus, central Ankara, below the citadel; coordinates approximate, Altindag, Ankara, Turkiye

The mosque is normally open from early morning until the night prayer, but visitors who are not praying should come outside the five daily prayers and avoid Friday noon, when the hall fills (confirm). The shrine room beside it may close for cleaning or keep shorter hours, and the temple wall can be seen from the street at any time, while the fenced ruin may have its own opening times or a ticket desk (confirm). Religious holidays and the evenings of Ramadan bring large crowds and limit tourist access. Prayer times shift through the year, so check the day before you plan the visit.

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