Ottoman Madrasa (Grand Ottoman Madrasa)

The Othmaniyah Mosque (The Grand Othmaniyah Madrasa) The Othmaniyah Mosque was constructed in the 1730s by the Ottoman governor of Aleppo, Othman Pasha, between 1730 and 1738. Also known as the Al-Rida’iyah Madrasa, it was established to train scribes for the Diwan. Its architecture features black and white ablaq masonry combined with blue tasbih (prayer bead) motifs on the entrance gate. The mosque boasts one of the tallest minarets in the city of Aleppo, built in the traditional Ottoman style. The complex occupies an irregularly shaped plot of land, with its main entrance situated on the western side, off a street. The entrance leads into a large, rectangular central courtyard oriented towards the Qibla, featuring a fountain and two small gardens. The southern side of the courtyard is dominated by a grand mosque, which overlooks the courtyard through a triple-arched portico with three domed bays. Two iwans flank this mosque, completing the southern facade of the courtyard. The other three sides of the courtyard are lined with arcades that open into forty-two small cells, which served as student accommodations for the madrasa. The circular dome is punctuated by star-shaped windows, casting diffused light ideal for study circles. Acoustic studies conducted within the dome revealed a reverberation time of 1.2 seconds, which is highly suitable for the recitation of verses. 11