The Great Mosque of Banten shows eclectic design, a proof of the international influence in Banten at the time of its construction. The mosque was constructed in Javanese style during the reign of Sultan Maulana Yusuf, the third Sultan of Banten Sultanate, in Dzulhijjah 966. A Javanese-styled pawestren was added during the reign of Maulana Muhammad. The southern serambi of the mosque was converted into a tomb containing about 15 graves. In 1632, a 24-meter minaret was added to the mosque complex. The minaret was designed by a Chineseman Cek-ban-cut. Around similar period the Dutch-styled tiyamah was added to the mosque following the design of Hendrik Lucaasz Cardeel, a Dutchman who was converted to Islam.
Architecture
In a typical architecture of Javanese mosque, the Great Mosque of Banten consists of the main prayer hall and a covered veranda. The serambi is a semi-attached porch-like structure which provides entrance to the main prayer hall. The main prayer features a five-tiered roof supported by four main posts. The three uppermost tier is arranged rather uniquely, appearing more like a Chinese pagoda than the regular multi-tiered roof of Javanese architecture. There is a dispute over the original number of the tiers of the main prayer hall; sketches of the city in 1596, 1624, 1661 and 1726 shows the number of the tier as not more than three tiers, while Valentijn mentioned the number of the tier is five as it is today. The covered verandas were added to the main mosque building, built in the north and south side of the mosque. Being a port town, the Great Mosque of Banten features eclectic elements, which appear in the overall enclosed space of the mosque, the minaret, and the tiyamah building. The minaret is a popular icon of the Great Mosque of Banten. It is a 24 meter high, brick minaret, with a 10 meter in diameter octagonal base. The shape is reminiscent of a lighthouse. The architecture features a mix of Indian Mughal pattern and ancientcandi decoration. Beside the mosque is a two-floored building built in the 17th-century Dutch style. This building, known as the tiyamah, was erected at the order of Sultan Haji of Banten and designed by a Dutchman, Hendrik Lucaasz Cardeel. Cardeel converted to Islam, became a member of the Banten court with the title Pangeran Wiraguna, and designed this building which now stands on the southwest side of the Great Mosque. It is still used as a center for Islamic study. There are several tombs in the mosque complex, such as the tomb of Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin and his wife, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa and Sultan Abu Nasir Abdul Qohhar.
