INVESTIGATING THE ORIENTATION OF ELEVEN MOSQUES IN GREECE

Abstract

This paper investigates the orientation of eleven mosques situated in several regions of Greece. The aim of this work is to verify whether and how accurately the monuments have been constructed according to the Muslim tradition. As geodetic and astrogeodetic methods are used, the geometric documentation of each monument is carried out and its astronomical orientation is determined. The qibla for each monument is calculated by using geodetic equations. The mosques' main axis azimuths are determined by a precision of some arc minutes. Also, their orientation, relative to the Canopus star (Alpha Carinae)—which the tradition has closely related to Kaabah in Mecca—is examined. All the mosques seem to follow the religious rule.