Tzisdarakis Mosque

One of the few Muslim monuments of the second period (1689-1821) of the Ottoman rule in Athens is the mosque that remained known under the name Tzisdarakis Mosque. It was built in 1759 by the Ottoman governor (Voevoda) of Athens, Mustapha Agha Tzisdarakis. According to tradition, Tzisdarakis used one of the pillars of the Temple of Olympian Zeus to make lime for the building, although it is more likely that he used one of the columns of the nearby Hadrian's Library, an equally unpleasant version. In the 20th century, its use changed and it housed, initially, the National Museum of Decorative Arts (since 1918) and then (since 1973) the Museum of Greek Folk Art, which today houses its annex with a collection of ceramics. Interesting information: in 1966 it was provisionally refurbished to provide a place of prayer during the stay of the deposed King of Saudi Arabia, Ibn Saud, in the city.