Historic Sights of Tashkent

The Amir Temur (also Gur Emir) is the mausoleum of the Asian conqueror Tamerlane (also known as Timur) in Samarkand (now in Uzbekistan). It occupies an important place in the history of Islamic Architecture as the precursor and model for the great Mughal tombs of Humayun in Delhi and the Taj Mahal in Agra, built by Timur's descendants, the ruling dynasty of North India. Gur-e Amir (Gur Emir) is Tajik for "Tomb of the King". This architectural complex with its azure dome contains the tombs of Tamerlane, his sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah and grandson Ulugh Beg and Muhammad Sultan. Also honoured with places in the tomb are Timur's teacher Mir Said Baraka. The earliest part of the complex was built at the end of the 14th century by the orders of Muhammad Sultan. Now only the foundations of the madrasa hana khanaka, the entrance portal and a part of one of four minaretsremains. The construction of mausoleum itself began in 1403 after the sudden death of Muhammad Sultan, Tamerlane's heir apparent and his beloved grandson. But actually Ulugh Beg, another grandson of Tamerlane, completed the work. During his reign the mausoleum became the family crypt of the Timurid Dynasty. The entrance portal to the Muhammad Sultan ensemble (see picture) is richly decorated with carved bricks and various mosaics. The decoration of the portal was accomplished by the skilled craftsman (ustad) Muhammad bin Mahmud Isfahani. Outwardly the Gur-e Amir (Gur Emir) Mausoleum is a one-cupola building. It is famous for its simplicity of construction and for its solemn monumentality of the appearance. It is an octahedral building crowned by an azure fluted dome (see picture). The exterior decoration of the walls consists of the blue, light-blue and white tiles organized into geometrical and epigraphic ornaments against a background of terracotta bricks.

1. 
   Shahi-Zinda
   

Historical and architectural monuments of Samarkand The genesis of the Shahi-Zinda necropolis on the slope of Afrasiab hill is connected with Kusam ibn
Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. We know that he took part in the first Arab campaigns to Maverannahr. According to legend, Kusam was mortally wounded on the walls of Samarkand and escaped underground, where he continues to live, hence the name of the necropolis, Shahi-Zinda - "living king". The martyr Kusam ibn Abbas had obtained the status of Islamic saint and patron of Samarkand by the 10^th-11^thcentury. During the 12^th-15^th centuries, a complex of mausoleums and mosques grew along the path leading to Kusam's mausoleum, which exudes exquisite beauty as if denying death itself.
Structures from the 11^th century form the core of Kusam ibn Abbas Mausoleum. First of all is a small domed tomb. The ceramic stepped gravestone, which was installed by Amir Temur in the 1380^s, occupies almost half of its area. The third step bears a citation from the Koran, establishing the name of the necropolis: "Never consider the dead those who were killed on the way to Allah. No, they live!" Near the tomb is a big memorial room with a mihrab in the western wall. A room for forty-day solo prayers is located under its floor. A small minaret of the 11th century is located by the entrance.
Chronologically, Shahi-Zinda developed from north to south. In the 1340^s, Khodja-Ahmad Mausoleum was built on the northern edge. The inscription on the mausoleum reads: " ... so let Allah prolong their eternity to make the tomb a garden of happiness for Khodja Ahmad..." In 1361 the mausoleum of a married noblewoman was built near Khodja-Ahmad Mausoleum. These first mausoleums are decorated with carved enameled terracotta of turquoise green and dark blue colors.
contains the tombs of Tamerlane, his sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah and grandsons Ulugh Beg and Muhammad Sultan. Also there is a tomb of Timur's teacher Sayyid Baraka. The earliest part of the complex was built at the end of the 14th century by the order of Muhammad Sultan. Now only the foundations of the madrasah and khanaka, the entrance portal and a part of one of four minarets remains.
The construction of the mausoleum began in 1403 after the sudden death of Muhammad Sultan, Tamerlane's heir and his beloved grandson, for whom it was intended. Timur had built himself a smaller tomb in Shahrisabz near his Ak-Saray palace. However, when Timur died in 1405 on campaign on his military expedition to China, the passes to Shahrisabz were snowed in, so he was buried there. Ulugh Beg, another grandson of Tamerlane, completed the work. During his reign the mausoleum became the family crypt of the Timurid’s Dynasty.
The entrance portal to the Muhammad Sultan ensemble is richly decorated with carved bricks and various mosaics. The decoration of the portal was accomplished by the skilled craftsman (ustad) Mahmud Isfahani. Inside the mausoleum — deep niches and diverse muqarnas decoration.
The Gur-e Amir Mausoleum is a one-cupola building. It is famous for its simplicity of construction. It is an octahedral building crowned by an azure fluted dome. The exterior decoration of the walls consists of the blue, light-blue and white tiles organized into geometrical and epigraphic ornaments against a background of terracotta bricks.