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Antiquities of Samarkand. Tomb of the Saint Kusam-ibn-Abbas (Shah-i Zindah) and Adjacent Mausoleums. Mausoleum of the Aine Khane (Emir Mussa). Inscription on the Upper Right Panel of the Niche

1865
This photograph of decorative ceramic work at the Tuman-Aka mausoleum within the Shah-i Zindah necropolis in Samarkand is from the archeological part of Turkestan Album. The six-volume photographic survey was produced in 1871-72 under the patronage of General Konstantin P. von Kaufman, the first governor-general, in 1867-82, of Turkestan, as the Russian Empire’s Central Asian territories were called. The album devotes special attention to Samarkand’s Islamic architecture, such as 14th- and 15th-century monuments from the reign of Tamerlane and his successors. Of particular note is Shah-i Zindah (Persian for “living king”), revered as a memorial to Kusam-ibn-Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. The Tuman-Aka mausoleum and mosque were built in 1405 as a memorial to the youngest wife of Tamerlane and are located to the left of the chartak in the northern cluster of shrines. The ensemble is notable for vibrant ceramic ornamentation with floral, geometric, and inscriptional patterns. This detail is located on the upper left side of the niche created by the mausoleum arch (peshtak). At top and bottom are inscriptions in the Thuluth form of Arabic script. In the center is a floral pattern with eight “petals.” This panel is framed by strips with linked ornamental figures. On the far left is the capital of the column on the left corner of the niche.

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3628.jpg
Copyright
acku Afghanistan
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1800x2555 / 191.9KB
Contained in galleries
UZBEKISTAN
1865<br />
This photograph of decorative ceramic work at the Tuman-Aka mausoleum within the Shah-i Zindah necropolis in Samarkand is from the archeological part of Turkestan Album. The six-volume photographic survey was produced in 1871-72 under the patronage of General Konstantin P. von Kaufman, the first governor-general, in 1867-82, of Turkestan, as the Russian Empire’s Central Asian territories were called. The album devotes special attention to Samarkand’s Islamic architecture, such as 14th- and 15th-century monuments from the reign of Tamerlane and his successors. Of particular note is Shah-i Zindah (Persian for “living king”), revered as a memorial to Kusam-ibn-Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. The Tuman-Aka mausoleum and mosque were built in 1405 as a memorial to the youngest wife of Tamerlane and are located to the left of the chartak in the northern cluster of shrines. The ensemble is notable for vibrant ceramic ornamentation with floral, geometric, and inscriptional patterns. This detail is located on the upper left side of the niche created by the mausoleum arch (peshtak). At top and bottom are inscriptions in the Thuluth form of Arabic script. In the center is a floral pattern with eight “petals.” This panel is framed by strips with linked ornamental figures. On the far left is the capital of the column on the left corner of the niche.