Antiquities of Samarkand. Madrasah of Bibi Khanym. Congregational Mosque. Inscription on the Posterior of the Marble Reading-Stand

1868
This photograph of a posterior triangular side of the marble Qurʼan holder at the main mosque of the Bibi Khanym ensemble in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) 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 (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 Timur (Tamerlane) and his successors. Built in 1399-1405 with the spoils of Timur’s campaign in India, the Bibi Khanym ensemble was the location of the city’s main, or Friday, mosque, named in homage to Timur’s senior wife, Sarai Mulk Khanym. The ensemble centers on the mosque, one of the largest in the Islamic world. Inside the mosque was an enormous Qurʼan holder (rihal) donated by Timur’s grandson Ulugh Beg and consisting of two massive triangular marble blocks resting on a marble plinth. Shown here is the posterior triangular side of the left block, with carved decoration consisting of floral patterns and bands of cursive script. (Background detail was reduced to highlight the carving.) In 1875, a few years after this photograph, the lectern was moved into the courtyard in front of the mosque.

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Filename: 3767.jpg
Copyright: acku Afghanistan
Image Size: 1800x2295 / 175.9KB; 1868 Uzbekistan Samarqand Samarkand Antiquities Madrasah Bibi Khanym Mosques Inscriptions Koran Stands Photo WDL 010227
Contained in galleries: UZBEKISTAN

1868<br />
This photograph of a posterior triangular side of the marble Qurʼan holder at the main mosque of the Bibi Khanym ensemble in Samarkand (Uzbekistan) 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 (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 Timur (Tamerlane) and his successors. Built in 1399-1405 with the spoils of Timur’s campaign in India, the Bibi Khanym ensemble was the location of the city’s main, or Friday, mosque, named in homage to Timur’s senior wife, Sarai Mulk Khanym. The ensemble centers on the mosque, one of the largest in the Islamic world. Inside the mosque was an enormous Qurʼan holder (rihal) donated by Timur’s grandson Ulugh Beg and consisting of two massive triangular marble blocks resting on a marble plinth. Shown here is the posterior triangular side of the left block, with carved decoration consisting of floral patterns and bands of cursive script. (Background detail was reduced to highlight the carving.) In 1875, a few years after this photograph, the lectern was moved into the courtyard in front of the mosque.