Colors Of Samarkand 2009 & 2010 - Part II

The Ruhabad Mausoleum as viewed from a hotel’s balcony.

Sheikh Burhan ad-din Sagaraji was the head of Muslims of Peking between 1345 and 1346. At that time, Peking was the capital of Mongol-Chinese Yuan Empire. The Ruhabad ("The House of Spirit") Mausoleum was built above the tombs of Sheikh Burhan ad-din Sagaraji and his sons. It is also believed that Sheikh Burhan ad-din's wife, the "Chinese Princess", was buried there too. According to some legends, a copper box with seven hairs of Prophet Muhammad had been hidden in the Ruhabad Mausoleum's dome.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The Ruhabad Mausoleum.



The Gur-Emir Mausoleum.

The Gur-Emir ("The Burial Vault of Emir") is the family cemetery of Amir Timur where Amir Timur and his remarkable grandson, Mirzo Ulugbeg, were buried.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The entrance of the Gur-Emir Mausoleum.



The décor inside the Gur-Emir Mausoleum.

The Observatory of Ulugbeg.

During the Middle Ages, astronomy was considered as one of the leading fields of Islamic science. Omar Khayyam and Nasr ad-din Tusi made astronomical observations and recorded them in a variety of astronomical tables. Mirzo Ulugbeg wanted to continue these observations and correct them if possible. Thus, in 1420, Ulugbeg ordered to build in Samarkand the biggest observatory of that time. With the help of this observatory, Ulugbeg and his team of astronomers successfully produced "Zijj of Ulugbeg", a theoretical introductory part and catalogue of 1018 stars.

However, in the late Middle Ages, the observatory was destroyed and "disappeared". In 1648, European scientists realized about the existence of this observatory when a part of "Zijj of Ulugbeg" was published in Oxford. In 1908, V. Vyatkin (Samarkand archeologist) found the observatory's ruins on Kuhak Hill which then led to further excavations in 1941 and 1948.

The archeologists discovered that the observatory was a huge three-level building that had the shape of a cylinder with the dimensions of about 46 meters in diameter and 30 meters high. They also found, under the ground, an enormous mural sextant that was used to measure the positions of stars.

SOURCES:

Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulugh_Beg

The mural sextant to measure the positions of stars, inside the Observatory of Ulugbeg.

SOURCES:

Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextant_(astronomical)

Replicas of the three-storey Observatory of Ulugbeg and the double quadrant, inside the Memorial Museum of Ulugbeg.

Star constellations mapped onto the ceiling of the Memorial Museum of Ulugbeg.

The text displayed inside the Memorial Museum of Ulugbeg.

The new facade of the Memorial Museum of Ulugbeg after the renovation in 2010.

With a Samarkand lady who was selling famous Samarkand bread.

The Mausoleum of Prophet Danial on the Afrasiab hill.

According to a legend, Prophet Danial @ Khoja Daniyar was one of the first preachers of Islam in Samarkand. Prophet Danial is a character that exists in Al-Quran and the Bible. Therefore, the tomb of Prophet Danial is respected by both the Muslims and the Christians.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

A small cave near the Mausoleum of Prophet Danial.



The tomb of Prophet Danial.



The Hazret-Hyzr Mosque.

The mosque is named after an Islamic saint, Hazret-Hyzr, who is also known as “Eternal Wanderer”. A legend says that the place where the mosque is built had been visited by Hazret-Hyzr. Originally, there was a pagan temple at the site of the mosque. However, in the early years of Islam in Samarkand, the pagan temple was transformed into a mosque. The present mosque was constructed in 1854 on the same foundations of the ancient mosque. The mosque then had been renovated and redecorated several times, over the years.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

A panoramic view of Samarkand City from the Hazret-Hyzr Mosque.

The Shah-i-Zindah Ensemble.

The name "Shah-i-Zindah", which means "The Underground King", refers to Kusam ibn Abbas. Kusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of Rasulullah, is believed to have died at the Walls of Samarkand when Moslems were attacked during a prayer. The two legends linked to Kusam's death conclude that Kusam may still be alive and is hiding under the earth of Samarkand.

Shah-i-Zindah is the scene of action where Kusam was killed. The mausoleum of Kusam ibn Abbas was constructed at this place in the 11th century and has been visited by Ibn Battuta (a famous Arabian traveler) in 1330's.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The ruins of an ancient bath which was built in the early 16th century.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

With a group of Samarkand ladies at the entrance portal of Shah-i-Zindah which was built in the 15th century.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

Colors Of Samarkand 2009 & 2010 - Part I

The ancient city of Samarkand is the same age as the ancient Rome. In medieval manuscripts, Samarkand is labeled as "Rome of the East" and "A Pearl of the Islamic World", among other nicknames. In the time of Amir Timur, in the 14th century, Samarkand became the capital of a huge Eurasian empire. Currently, the historical city of Samarkand is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its unique architecture and archeological monuments.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The Registan.

The Registan ("Sandy Place") consists of the Madrasah of Ulugbeg (on the left), the Tillya-Kari Mosque and Madrasah (in the middle) and the Sher-Dor Madrasah (on the right). Originally, there was a big rectangular pool, filled with water from a canal, in the middle of the Registan. However, the pool and the canal are no longer present.

The Madrasah of Ulugbeg was constructed in the 15th century. Mirzo Ulugbeg, the great Samarkand ruler and also one of the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians of the 15th century, was the main lecturer of this Madrasah. Originally, the Madrasah had 50 cells, where more than 100 students living in them. Before the Observatory of Ulugbeg was constructed, there had been a platform for astronomical observations in the compound of the Madrasah.

The construction of the Tillya-Kari ("Covered with Gold") Mosque and Madrasah started in 1647 and took almost 20 years to be completed. The mosque was built as a juma-mosque by the powerful Samarkand ruler, Yalangtush-biy Bahadur, after the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur had collapsed and Kukeltash Juma-Mosque was ruined.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

Another view of the Registan.

The Madrasah of Ulugbeg.



Inside the Madrasah of Ulugbeg.



The Sher-Dor Madrasah.

The Sher-Dor ("Having Tigers") Madrasah was built in 1619-1636 by Yalangtush-biy Bahadur. This Madrasah is an architectural imitation of the Madrasah of Ulugbeg. Similar to the Madrasah of Ulugbeg, Islamic sayings written in white letters on a dark blue background were widely used in its décor. In the portal arch of the Madrasah, there are unique mosaic images of "tiger-lions" (striped tigers with lion manes) on the "Sun with human face" as the background. The whole image is referred to as solar tiger-lion. Tiger and lion are two regal animals in Islamic mythology as the aliases for Sayyidina Ali are "Divine Tiger" and "Lion of Allah". The solar tiger-lion images symbolize the union between the king of beasts and the king of cosmic bodies.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

Another view of the Sher-Dor Madrasah.

The Tillya-Kari Mosque and Madrasah.

A ceiling inside the Tillya-Kari Mosque.

The design of gold-plated décor of this ceiling creates the optical illusion that makes us see as if there is a dome whereas it is actually a flat ceiling.

Some souvenirs being sold at the Registan.

The Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

For the Central Asian people, Amir Timur (1336-1405) was a great political leader who had brought back the dignity of the Muslim world and made Central Asia as the center of the world power during his sovereignty.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

The construction of Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur, or well-known as Bibi-Khanym Mosque, started in 1399 and was completed within 5 years. Many architects, artists and craftsmen from different conquered countries including elephants that had been brought in from the Indian battle were involved in the construction of this extravagant mosque. The large original courtyard of this mosque was able to accommodate thousands of people who came to a prayer at one time.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The lectern to hold the oldest-surviving Holy Quran issued by Caliph Uthman, inside the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

SOURCES:
Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Qur'an

The lectern (side view) and one of the two winter mosques, inside the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

With local ladies who work at the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.

The Bibi-Khanym Madrasah and Mausoleum.

The name of Bibi-Khanym belongs to Sarai-Mulk Khanym, the senior wife of Amir Timur.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The turquoise-domed Mausoleum of Imam Al-Bukhari inside the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.

Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Bukhari was an outstanding Sunni theologian with exceptional memory. Imam Al-Bukhari devoted his entire life to the study of Hadiths and managed to analyze more than 600 thousand Hadiths. He performed hajj in his youth, and traveled to Egypt, Iraq and Khurasan to collect Hadiths. At the end of his life, Imam Al-Bukhari returned home and passed away in Hartang, a village near Samarkand, in 870.

In the 18th century, a mausoleum was erected over the tomb of Imam Al-Bukhari. Recently, the Uzbekistan Government constructed the new memorial complex on the site of the old mausoleum.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.

The tomb of Imam Al-Bukhari inside the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.

The Imam Al-Bukhari Mosque.

The carved wooden columns and the ornamented ceilings of the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.

Colors Of Bukhara 2009 & 2011 - Part II

The Lyabi-Hauz.

The Lyabi-Hauz was dug in 1620 and became the biggest artificial reservoir in medieval Bukhara. It used to contain more than four thousand cubic meters of water which flowed from the Aryk of Shahrud ("Royal River"), to be supplied to the citizens of Bukhara.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

Photo courtesy of Syazwan Abdul Ghani.

A statue of a camel on the bank of the Lyabi-Hauz.

Photo courtesy of Mohammad Asy'ari Mohamed Akhir.



The Khanaka of Nadir Divan-Begi, overlooking the Lyabi-Hauz.

The Khanaka of Nadir Divan-Begi is a Sufi khanaka (monastery) which was ordered to be built by Nadir Divan-Begi in 1619-1620.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

An ancient mulberry tree which was planted in 1477 on the bank of the Lyabi-Hauz.

Photo courtesy of Mohammad Asy'ari Mohamed Akhir.

The ancient mulberry tree.

An alley at the rear of the Poi-Kalyan.

Poi-Kalyan (Kalyan Ensemble) consists of Mosque of Kalyan, Madrasah of Miri-Arab and Madrasah of Amir Alim-Khan.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

The Minaret of Kalyan & the Mosque of Kalyan.

Minaret of Kalyan ("Great") was constructed in 1127 and acts as the main symbol of sacred Bukhara. The tower is 45.5 meters high. Inside the tower, there is a spiral staircase with 104 steps. Minaret of Kalyan is also known as "Tower of Death" where people sentenced to death were thrown down from its top, in the old days. Meanwhile, Mosque of Kalyan was constructed in the 15th century and became the major mosque of Bukhara for five centuries.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

A close-up look at the Minaret of Kalyan.

The beautifully-arranged bricks of the Minaret of Kalyan.

Inside the Mosque of Kalyan.

Photo courtesy of Syazwan Abdul Ghani.

The Madrasah of Miri-Arab.

Madrasah of Miri-Arab ("Prince of the Arabs") was constructed in 1535-1536. It operated for five centuries, had a break for two decades, and reopened in 1945.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

The Poi-Kalyan at dusk: the Madrasah of Miri-Arab (on the left), the Madrasah of Amir Alim-Khan (in the middle), the Minaret of Kalyan (in the middle) and the Mosque of Kalyan (on the right).

The Poi-Kalyan was being prepared for the anniversary celebration of Bukhara City in 2011.

The Toki Tilpak-Furushon.

Toki Tilpak-Furushon ("Mall of Headwear Sellers") was constructed in the 16th century. Its general architecture is a hexagon with a dome laying on six supports.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

The Toki Tilpak-Furushon from far.



The Mosque of Magoki-Attari.

The Mosque of Magoki-Attari is the most ancient Bukhara mosque. Fragments of foundations and carved decor found inside the mosque dated back to the 10th century. A hypothesis says that this mosque was founded on the place for a temple of Moon.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

The Toki Sarrafon.

Toki Sarrafon ("Mall of Money-Changers") was constructed in the 16th century. In the old days, the ancient Aryk of Shahrud ("Royal River") was flowing under this building.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

The Mausoleum of the Samanids in the Samanids Park.

The Mausoleum of the Samanids is believed to be built at the turn of 9th and 10th centuries. It is an ancient cemetery for the royal family of the Samanids. A hypothesis says that this mausoleum is a transformation from a temple of Sun.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

Another view of the Mausoleum of the Samanids.

The general architecture of the mausoleum is a cube crowned by a hemisphere. The perfect harmony of its geometrical forms makes it recognized as one of the architectural masterpieces of the world heritage.

SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Bukhara: Masterpieces of Central Asia, "SAN'AT" Press, Tashkent, 2006.

The fine and brilliant brickwork of the Mausoleum of the Samanids.

The Chashma Ayub Mausoleum.

The Chashma Ayub Mausoleum was built in the 12th century in honor of Prophet Ayub (Prophet Job). According to a legend, Prophet Ayub had helped to bring into existence a water spring in the settlement when the region was facing a terrible drought.

SOURCE: http://www.bukhara.net/magictoday/chayub.htm

The Monument of Imam Al-Bukhari.



A store selling Bukhara handcrafted potteries.