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İlyas Bey Mosque, located in the Söke district of Aydın, is an important religious structure from the Ottoman period.

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İlyas Bey Mosque is located in the village of Balat, part of the Söke district of Aydın, near the ancient city of Miletus. The structure was built in 1403 by İlyas Bey, the last ruler of the Mentese Beylik. The architecture of the mosque reflects the characteristics of early Ottoman architecture, being a single-domed, square-plan structure. It is believed that spolia were used in the construction of the mosque, as marble blocks and column capitals brought from the nearby ancient city of Miletus can be seen in its structure. The minaret of the mosque has a cylindrical body resting on a square base and a single balcony. The interior is quite simple, with the mihrab (prayer niche) and minbar (pulpit) reflecting the characteristic features of the period. In the courtyard of the mosque, there is also the tomb of İlyas Bey. The tomb was built at the same time as the mosque and is an octagonal, domed structure. İlyas Bey Mosque is an important work that carries the cultural and artistic heritage of the Mentese Beylik to the present day. The structure was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012. The village of Balat, where the mosque is located, is also a historically and culturally rich region as it hosts the ancient city of Miletus. The mosque is still open for worship today…

tips_and_updatesVisit Tips

• The mosque can be visited outside of prayer times.
• Since it is close to the ancient city of Miletus, you can combine your visit with Miletus.
• Be respectful of worshippers when taking photos inside the mosque.
• Make sure to wear appropriate clothing when entering the mosque.
• You can try local delicacies at nearby local restaurants.