South Kurdistan · Bashur · Medieval & Islamic
Mudhafaria Minaret (Choli Minaret)
A brick minaret from Erbil's golden age under Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri, standing alone in a park since its mosque disappeared.
- Period
- Late 12th – early 13th century
- Place
- Minaret Park, Erbil
- Region
- South Kurdistan · Bashur
- Age
- Medieval & Islamic
Under Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri, who ruled Erbil from 1190 to 1232, the city flourished with schools, hospitals and mosques. This minaret is what remains of one of them. An octagonal base, decorated with panels of patterned brickwork and traces of glazed tile, carries a tall cylindrical shaft with a double staircase inside.
It is around 36 metres high and leans slightly. For centuries it was a landmark outside the old city, and it is one of the finest examples of decorative brick architecture in the region.
Chosen and introduced by Aram Mizuri, architect in Erbil