Samarkand - The Gem of The East
Samarkand is the second largest city of Uzbekistan and is of the same age as Rome, Athens and Babylon- more than 25 centuries old. Ancient Arab manuscripts refer to it as the Gem of the East, Europeans called it the The Land of Scientists. A majestic and beautiful city, Samarkand is the city of legends. When Alexander the Great first time saw Samarkand, he exclaimed I heard that the city was beautiful but never thought that it could be so beautiful and majestic.
Yes, by any standards the city has an astonishing collection of ancient monuments. The turquoise domes of Samarkand is among the worlds most evocative architectural symbols. The most magnificent landmark in this old city is Registan Square- a traditional center of the city.
The square is lined on the three sides by sparkling and turquoise tiled buildings- Ulugbek Madrasah, Sherdor and Tilla Qori. Madrasah in Arabic means The medieval universities. Inferior and exterior facades of the madrassah are decorated with ornament of glazed brick, mosaic and carved marble. The Square is considered an architectural gem representing the finest in Islamic Art.
The Other Historical site is Mausoleum of Tamerlane, one of the imposing conquerors in history, who made Samarkand beloved by poets and travelers. The majesty of architectural forms and lines and colorful mosaic designs make this mausoleum a unique monument of medieval architecture. the famous blue ribbed cantaloupe dome of mausoleum rises over the tin roof-tops in central Samarkand. A massive slab of green jade, under which Tamerlane was laid is said to be the largest such stone in the world.
 Samarkands importance to the history and culture mankind is now being recognized by UN, UNESCO and WTO, which are helping to promote tourism to the region. As the government, who has made tourism a priority sector for development is continuing to invest hotels, airports, transportation and leisure facilities, service is becoming yet another of the countrys attractions.
As one the ancient poets said:
You can travel through the whole world, have a look at the pyramids and admire the smile of the Sphinx;
You can listen to the soft singing of the wind at the Adriatic Sea and kneel down reverently at the ruins of the Acropolis, be dazzled by Rome with its Forum and Coliseum, be charmed by Notre Dame in Paris or by old domes of Milan;
But if you have seen buildings of Samarkanda, you will be enchanted by its magic forever.
Source: http://www.tashkent.org/uzland/samarkand.html
SAMARKAND
Cities, like the people, have its inimitable character, its heart, its nature and its life. And such as Samarkand is one of the ancient cities of the world. Either as the others, the first hearth of human civilizations like Babylon and Memphis, Athens and Rome, Alexandria and Vicinity Samarkand had to live through the long history.
An exceedingly advantageous geographical location, chilly climate, abundance of natural resources with perfect water, which is called in Samarkand Obiy Rahmat - Water of favour, the vicinity of mountains with the multiple of game, running beside big river Zerafshan, serving long for the floating of timber from the mountains, - all this ensured always favourable conditions for human settlements in the region.
 Eventful and sometimes dramatic history was written to Samarkand from his first days. City saw on its streets and squares the half-wild sacs and massegets, hordes of cruel karakitays, endured the destructive invasion of fanatical Arabic commanders. With fire and swords were falling in on its peaceful houses the blood hordes of Chingis-Han. In the time of Timur the Great Samarkand becomes the capital of World Empire. And with the great scientist and astronomer Ulugbek the city obtained a glory of one of the outstanding centres of culture and science of medieval.
Eden of Ancient East, Precious pearl of Islam world, Rome of the East, Saikaly Ruiy Zamin, Peak of the Land - such splendid names are given to Samarkand by poets, historians, medieval geographers of Iran, India, China, Egypt. Samarkand was truthfully named and is being named the priceless treasury of culture of East folk. Till our days in Samarkand they were saved the wonderful by the beauty, unique by the architectonic forms monuments of Medieval architecture, that were erected by the hands of labour folk, authentic creator of history. Indeed, the very common, ordinary people, public talents, inspired masters-bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, ceramics masters, carvers on alabaster, on the stone, on the wood, painters on the mural painting toiled at that past days, giving their talent, their sweat and blood for making the immortal creations, causing delight of descendants. The architectural monuments of Samarkand, its squares, blocks, streets are the real stone pages of history, turning over which we have a possibility to go deep into the ancient history of the city. We can not go by without being delighted of the ruins of once majestic mosque of Bibi-khan, turquoise dome of a mausoleum of Guriy Emir, inimitable by the elegance of the ensemble of Shahi-Zinda, the group of medrese (church school) of Ulugbek, Sher-Dor, Tilliay-Kari on  Registan square, observatory of Ulugbek and mausoleum of Asharat-Hona (Ishrat-Hona).
All these and many other masterpieces hold an important place in the history of world architecture and by their artistic dignity stand in one row with famous architectural monuments of Egypt, India, Iran, antique Greece and ancient Rome.
Samarkand is also famous for its applied arts: wall paintings, carving on wood and loam, mintage on the metal, jewellery, silk and gold embroideries, carpet making and silk weaving. The Samarkand gold and silver necklaces, earrings, bracelets, the thinnest copper vessels, loamy decorated dish, satin tapestries, silk Samarkand paper, khan-atlas of wonderful colouring, embroidered head gear, leather footwear were famous in the countries of East and West. The Samarkand Artistic ceramics gladden an eye with fanciful, but strict drawing, purity of tones and perfection of the form has been famous far off outside the Central Asia. Products of Samarkand masters are presently decorated in the halls of many museums of the world.
GUR EMIR
The Gur Emir Mausoleum is a world-known masterpiece of Central Asian architecture. The construction began in 1403 and  was connected with a sudden death of Muhammad Sultan, the grandson of Tamerlane. Actually, it was completed by Ulughbek. During his rule the mausoleum became the family crypt of the Timuride dynasty. The mausoleum built in the south-east of the medieval Samarkand was a part of the complex erected at the end of the 14th century by the orders of Muhammad Sultan. Now only the foundations of the madrasah and khanaka, the entrance portal and a part of one minaret have survived. The entrance portal to the Muhammad Sultan ensemble is a masterpiece of structure and decoration. It is richly faced with carved bricks and various mosaics. The name of the master who created beauty is Muhammad bin Makhmud Isfaghani.
Gur Emir Mausoleum is a one-cupola building with a crypt. It is noted for the simplicity of the construction and the solemn monumentality of the appearance. An octahedral building of the mausoleum carries a high cylindrical drum crowned by a huge 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 the background of terracotta bricks.
The dome (diameter- 15m, height- 12.5m) is of a bright blue colour with deep rosettes and white spots. Grand flutes give an amazing expressiveness to the cupola. During the rule of Ulughbek a niche was made to provide a passage into the mausoleum. Mausoleum itself is a high and large premises with deep niches on sides and diverse decoration. Low parts of the walls are faced with panels fashioned out of onyx slabs, each of them was covered by refined paintings. Above the panels there is a marble stalactite cornice. Large surfaces of the walls are decorated with painting against a plaster; the arches and the internal dome are ornamented by the high-relief papier-mache cartouches, gilded and painted. All great achievements of the craftsmen of Samarkand and the Middle East were concentrated in the magnificent decoration of the mausoleum interior. The Gur Emir complex is an example of a new synthetic style of Central Asian architecture of the beginning of the 15th century.
Under Ulughbek a dark green nephrite tombstone was placed on the grave of Tamerlane. Next to Tamerlane's grave there are marble tombstones of his sons Miranshakh and Shakhrukh and his grandsons - Muhammad Sultan and Ulughbek, of Mir Seyid Bereke, Tamerlane's preceptor. The Gur Emir mausoleum is the most studied monument of Samarkand.
Archaeological excavations on the ensemble territory helped to find out the bases of the Muhammad khanaka and madrasah.
Close study of the mausoleum itself helped to conduct great restoration works of the dome and of the interior. In 1941 all the graves in crypt have been opened and historical information about Tamerlane's appearance, the assassination of Ulughbek, the authenticity of other graves have been confirmed.
BIBI-HANIMS MOSQUE
After returning from the victorious Indian campaign, Timur in 1399 has undertaken a construction of cathedral mosque. The present market existing as long as 600 years ago, lives its particular life of east market - a city centre, its heart, and the gigantic silhouette growing up among ruins of the largest mosque of Medieval East, the Bibi-Hanim mosque. And if Samarkand was called earlier The Pearl of East, then Bibi-Hanim was rightly named The Pearl of Samarkand. It was compared on the beauty and shining with the Milky Way. However, contemporary of Timur noted that soon after completing a construction, when mosque has become a place of solemn religious services, the building began to come to ruin. Too impudent was a fit of its creator, who had decided to embody the impossible architectural idea on that time.
The monumental Arch of entrance portal, which by Timur's idea had to repeat the Milky way, did not bear a test of the time, and crashed down in first years after construction. Strange feeling causes a sight of these beautiful ruins. Ruined, fades a great past. The only that past have are the ruins of mosque and the beautiful legends of love. Was it the love between the Architect and queen Bibi-Hanim? Alas, the disappointment is waiting for romantics. The eldest wife of Timur, the powerful woman Saray mulk Hanim, in honor of which is named the mosque, remind nothing of the beautiful heroin of charming fairy tale. However, is the truth - an enemy of beauty?
Even there was not this love, but it still lives in the miracle of Bibi-Hanim. In our days a big and violent restoration work is undertaken on reconstruction of former view of the pearl of Samarkand - the mosque of Bibi-Hanim.
REGISTAN
Registan is one of the most famous historical sights of Samarkand. Registan is taken from a Persian word and means sandy place. According to the old legend an old canal which ran from South-East to North-West flowed through the square. Once the canal dried and its sand left on the square. Here, where the word Registan comes from.
In the XV century, during the rule of Amir Temur (Tamurlane) a huge market was on the Registan square. At that time Samarkand was known as a center of science and different crafts. That is why a lot of scientists from all over the world were in Samarkand, surrounding Ulughbek at that time. A number of visitors were coming to see the holy Shakhi-Zinda, and the traders were coming to buy famous Samarkand paper and other goods. Many roads were meeting together on the main square of Samarkand, Registan. Registan had changed its constructions for 3 times through the centuries. First, under the surveillance of Timur's wife Tuman-oga a big trade dome was built here.
During the rule of Ulughbek the square was developed to its present view. The market was moved to another place not far away from the Registan. On the western part of the square Ulughbek ordered to built a madrassah (religious school). In 1424 a Khanako (guest house), which was opposite the Ulughbek madrassah Khanako, was comparatively smaller than the madrassah, because of the tomb of Imom Jafar Sodik. It was located on the south-western part of the Khanako. A Karavan  Saroy was built later on the northern part of the square. The Karavan Saroy consisted of a court yard, main facade, portal and four minarets (towers) on four corners. In 1430s the teacher of Shokhrukh (Tamerlane's son) Alika Kukaldosh ordered to built a new Juma mosque (Friday mosque). The mosque consists of a huge yard decorated by 210 domes. The remains of the mosque were found during excavations in 1936. Next to the mosque, on the place of the current fountains, another one called Masjidi Mukatta (carved mosque) was located in the past. The doors and the columns of the mosque were nicely carved.
Besides all these constructions, the Ulughbeks bathhouse situated not far from the Registan square differed from the others in the city. That was also built by Ulughbek in 1424. That is why it was called as Mirzo Ulughbek bathhouse. Well, we can say now that Registan turned to the cultural center of Samarkand during Ulughbek's rule. Different exhibitions and competitions took place on the square in the past. Ramazan & Kurban-hait (holidays) widely celebrated here. Because of the intersection of the six main roads of the city at the Registan we can also say that it was a trade center too. Undoubtedly, Registan of Samarkand is a grate example of city construction. But unfortunately only the Ulughbek's madrassah is saved up to our days. The Registan which we enjoy now was developed in the XVII century.
ULUGHBEKS MADRASSAH (1417-1420)
In the year of 1417 by the order of the young ruler, the craftsmen started constructing a Madrassah. The Ulughbek Madrassah was built in 1417-1420. It is the only building among all the former buildings of the Registan built in XV which is saved up to our days. The Ulughbek's Madrassah is a classic example of the muslim architecture.
The Madrassah consists of two floors with 55 rooms around, 4 winter lecture rooms in the four corners and four summer niches (aiwan).
The aiwans used as lecture rooms in the summer time. Between the two lecture rooms there was a big mosque. The mosque had one main and two secondary doors leading to the yard.
The main Western facade faces the square, and has a big entrance portal. It is decorated by geometric patens. The Ulughbek Madrassah is rich of patens and mosaics. The bricks dominate with the glossed ones and they make mosaic. The decoration of stars on the portal of the madrassah say that Ulughbek was one of the great astronomers of the World. The Ulughbek Madrassah was the biggest madrassah of that time. This was also the biggest center of religious studies.
The madrassah was built by Kavomiddin Sheroriy, who was a creator of a number of palaces in Hirat (Afganistan). Students could study not only religious but also some other sciences. All of them were chosen by Ulughbek himself. Before giving a job to teachers he used to interview them himself from the scientific & cultural points of view. Mavlono Muhammad Khovafi, Kozi-Zoda Rumi, Giyositdin Jamshed, Muhiddin Koshiy were one the best mudarrises (teachers) of the madrassah. Ulughbek himself and his lovely student Ali-Kushchi were teaching different subjects in the madrassah.
Certificates were given to the students who have completed the course of 15-17 years and have passed all the necessary exams.
Besides teaching in the madrassah professors were also practicing mathematics, geography, astronomy and many different subjects. Before constructing an observatory Ulughbek and his assistants were studying in the Mukatta mosque.
In the XV century Samarkand becomes the center of cultural and scientific life. Not only the scientists, but also famous poets of that time visited Samarkand. Jomiy, Navoiy came from Hirat (Afganistan) to Samarkand in order to study in the Ulughbek Madrassah.
Jomiy was proposed to work, to teach in the Ulughbek's madrassah by some professors. Once a student of this madrassah now he was teaching his own students. The Ulughbek Madrassah is known as a pearl of the XV century muslim architecture.
SHER-DOR MADRASSAH (1619-1636)
The XVII century history of Samarkand is connected with the ruler from Ulchin tribe, Uzbek military officer Yalangtush Bahodur. Many constructions were built during the Ashtarkhanies dynasty. He won many battles and become very rich. Some construction works bucked up during his rule. He ordered to built two huge madrassahs on the Registan square. Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari madrassah. Sher-Dor is built opposite the Ulughbek's madrassah on the place of the former Khanako. Their projects are the same, but they are not similar. Around the square yard of the Sher-Dor there are 52 rooms (khudjras), in the corners there are winter classrooms. The South-Western khudjra is a place for pilgrims (ziyoratkhona), because there is a tomb of Imam Jafar. On the facade between the minarets there is an image of two lions, with the rising sun at the back ground. That is why madrassah called Sher-Dor (having lions).
Also according to the classic muslim astrology the presence of the Sun in the horoscope of Leo (Asad) as it is depicted in the image of lion with the rising Sun behind is the symbol of flourishing period. As we understand Shariat (muslim law) it is prohibited to have the living images. Because of these images of lions, the students were not allowed to pray in the madrassah. And there was no mosque.
The Sher-Dor and the Ulughbek madrassah are not at the same level. The square was on one level in XV century and it grew up a little bit in the XVII, that is why they both are on the different levels. The madrassah is decorated by different geometric ornaments and inscriptions, flowers, words and other details. All of them were professionally done. On the walls there are four poems of Shexhug (famous poet writer) in which one can read the heroic exploits of Yalangtush Bahodur. We can also see the name of craftsman Abdul Jabbar and carver Khasan Samarkandi.
The height of the minarets (towers) are 31 m. Lately much work was done in order to reconstruct the madrassah to its original appearance. Thanks to that people are still enjoying the beauty of this majestic madrassah.
TILLA-KARI MADRASSAH (1646-1660)
Tilla-Kari Madrassah was built during the last years of Yalangtush Bahodurs reign. Two main Friday mosques of Samarkand became old and came to ruins at that time. That is why architects built mosque and madrassah in one building. They made lecture rooms on three sides, and a mosque on the Western part of the square yard.
Flowers ornaments, inscriptions were covered with the golden leaves. This is the reason why they call this mosque Tilla-Kari (Golden Mosque). Religious meeting and customs took place in the madrassah.
By construction of Tilla-Kari madrassah Registan ensemble took its present view. At the end of the XVIII century the Trade Dome Chorsu was also built here, which is an exhibition of national crafts now.
Registan is a witness of history. It saw imaging things, battles, revolts, invasions... That is why people of Samarkand and the whole Uzbek nation love and respect the monuments on this long-suffering Registan square.
Many architects, engineers, scientists, constructors, builders, craftsmen were invited in order to save the beauty of these constructions. Thanks to talent and skills of the craftsmen all the madrassah at the Registan are fixed and saved up to our days. That is why Samarkand is known as adorning of the world (Saykali Rukhi Zamin).
Especially after getting its independence Uzbekistan is paying much attention to renovating the historical sights.
In 1994 UNESCO decides to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the great astronomer Mirzo Ulughbek, the 660th anniversary of the great ruler, commander and military leader Amir Temur in 1996. In honor of this happy holiday the second floor of the Ulughbek's madrassah was completely restored and brought to its appearance. The Madrassah Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kari were partly restored. Nowadays a special sound and light show might be seen at the Registan square in the evenings.
In the conclusion we should say that during the years of independence Registan became an attraction not only for foreign tourists but also the center of joy and happiness, the place where most of the holidays, competitions, festivals take place.
Yet it be so!
ULUGHBEKS OBSERVATORY
The Ulughbek's observatory is one of the most famous observatories of the Middle Ages, built in the environs of Samarkand in 1428-1429 by Ulughbek.
The remains of the observatory were found by Russian archeologist V.L. Vyatkin in 1908, but only in 1948 the excavations were made by V.A. Shishkin.
The observatory was made in the form of a cylinder, had three floors total height of 30.4m, diameter 46.40 and contained a huge marble sextant (or quadrant) by radius of 40.21 m where there was possible to measure coordinates of the Sun, Moon and planets by passing them through meridian. The sextant was opened by excavations. It is an arc making the sixth part of the circumference (60'). The sextant is under the earth in a specially digged pit and was well preserved. The arc of the sextant is limited by two barriers faced with marble. The curvature of marble plates is accurate. The sextant is accurately oriented according to the meridian, on each grade of marble circle there are cut points and figures. 70 cm interval corresponds to each grade. The brick staircase led along barriers under the earth.
Azimuth watching was possible on the horizontal circle top the building and other tools which are not preserved. In the observatory there were small measuring instruments too: sun and starry-dial, astrolabe and others. In the observatory there were large halls and lots of large and little rooms. Abd ar-Razzak Saroarkandi and Babur tell about the image on the inner walls of the observatory nine heaven, nine celestial spheres with grades, minutes, seconds and tenth fraction of a second, heaven of rotation, seven planets, fixed stars, the globe with the climate division with mountains, seas, deserts and so on.
The catalogue of stars Zidj-i djedidi Guragoni created at the Ulughbek's observatory, has been universally recognized and distinguished oneself by exceptional exactness. After Ulughbek's death the observatory functioned some decades. Mukhammad Ali Kushchi and Miram Chelebi guided the scientific works in the observatory.
In 1964 near the sextant the Ulughbek Museum was opened.
SHAKHI-ZINDA
The Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble is one of the world-known necropolis of Central Asia. It includes mausoleums and other worship buildings. It is situated in the north-eastern part of Samarkand. The name The living king is connected with the legend that Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of the prophet Muhammad was buried here. He came to Samarkand with the Arabian invasion in the VII century and preached Islam there. Popular legends speak that he was assassinated. But he took his head into his hands and went into the well, where he is still living now. The Shakhi-Zinda complex had been formed during nine centuries from the XI till the XIX centuries and now it includes more than twenty buildings. It comprises three groups of structures: lower, middle and upper connected by four-arched domed passages - chartak. The earliest buildings date back to the XI-XII centuries. Only their bases have remained now.
 The main group dates back to the 14-15th centuries. Reconstructions of the 16-19th centuries were of no significance and did not change the general composition and appearance. The most ancient group - Kusam ibn Abbas complex is situated in the north-eastern part of the ensemble. It consists of several buildings. One of them - Kusam ibn Abbas mausoleum is the most ancient point of the whole ensemble. The upper group of buildings consists of the three mausoleums facing each other. The earliest one is KhojaAkhmad Mausoleum (XIV), which completes the passage from the north. The Mausoleum of 1361 restricts the same passage from the east. To the west a complex of Tamerlane's wife Tuman-Aga is situated. It was built in the beginning of the 15th century and includes three premises: mausoleum, mosque, khujra. The middle group consists of the mausoleums of the last quarter of the 14th century the first half of the 15th century and is connected with the name of Tamerlane's relatives, military and clergy nobility. Shadi-Mulk-Aga mausoleum is a portal-domed one-premises crypt (1372).
Opposite is a mausoleum of Shirin-Bika-Aga, Tamerlane's sister. Next to it is the so-called Octahedron, the original crypt of the first half of the 15th century. It was built as a rotunda with arched apertures. Near the multistepped staircase one of the most refined building is situated. It is a double-cupola mausoleum of the beginning of the 15th century. The majestic portal-faced south was built in 1434-1435 under Ulughbek. Actually Shakhi-Zinda Ensemble demonstrates the development of the architectural school of Samarkand and Central Asia and the evolution of the applied monumental art. There was no end to the fantasy of ceramists in combining various types of decoration: carved and glazed terracotta, high-relief and painted majolica, carved mosaic combined with murals against plaster as a background. Scientific researches which began in the 19th century had been widespread during 20th century. Restoration works are going on.
AL-BUKHORIY
This great person is known in the world of Hadis (the sayings of Prophet Muhammad) under the names like: Emir of the Muslims, Brave Imom, Imom of Hadis writers and Said of Fakih's. His real name is Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismoil ibn Ibrohim ibn al-Muqiyra ibn Bardazba (Bardisbeh).
Since al-Bukhory was 21 years of age he started writing, and became the author of numerous scientific works. His work called Al-Jomi as-sahih made him known as Sultan of Hadis science all over the world.
The government of the Republic of Uzbekistan made a decision to celebrate the 1225th jubilee of our great countryman Imom al-Bukhoriy.
According to the decision the huge mausoleum was constructed on the place where he was buried. This mausoleum became one of the most favorite places of visit of Uzbeks.
THE MAUSOLEUM OF ISHRATHANA (1464)
The dynasty mausoleum for women and children was built in 1464 by the order of Habib Sultanbegim one of the Abu Said's wives. Abu Said was the governor of Timurid's dynasty. The mausoleums of the Ishrathana complex with highstones vaults, blues domes, intricate mosaic, magnificent decorations had ruined by the time. In spite of the fact that the upper platforms of the mausoleum were crashed and the unique decoration was lost partly. The whole construction surprised us by its skilful harmony outlines tiled ornaments. The vast mausoleum was decorated by the panels of tiles and the marble framed from all sides. In the center of Ishrathana there was a tomb for Sultan Hovandbicka's queen. The total area is 27,5m x 22,5 m.
THE ABDI DARUN'S ENSEMBLE (XII-XX)
Among the picturesque ensemble of various buildings of different times which was formed nearby the grave of Samarkand's judge Abdul Muzedinn. The mausoleum was built in 12th century. There is another building attached to the mausoleum zierat hana - honakakh. In XIX century it was expanded by the construction of summer mosque with Ivan, perhaps dated as XV. There is the eight-tangled house building in the center of the court. At the beginning of the 20th century a small minaret before the mosque had been built. The Hodja Abdi Darun monument, the look of an ancient oriental composition can be observed well thanks to around corridor. The main entrance and the outside sight of crowned domes are represented by geometrical designs, ornaments-hirikh. The Mausoleum is made of burnt brick and decorated with glazed tiles between which are poems and sayings of philosophers, poets. The total area is 125,0m x 70,0m.
THE ABDI BERUN'S ENSEMBLE (XVI)
The ancient oriental ensemble is to the south-west part of Samarkand. It was based on the level faced the direction to the east-west with distinctive features: the main entrance - darvoza-hona, the trail and extra entrance leading to the second court - dakhma Khodja Abdi Benin, the aivan with the mikhrab niche. The bulky portal - domed khanaka has crossed-looking sight of the hall and angled type dwellings.
The portal is decorated in a peculiar, intricate design. The skilful stone and wood carving, the sky-blue dome delicate architectural and the wealth of mosaic produce an indelible impression. The brick work of portal niche is so skilful that the building seems lacy and decorated by majolica. Crafting fence and dwellings made the marvelous complete design. The total area is about 4000 square m.
THE NODIR DEVANBEGI'S MEDRESSAH (1630-1631)
It is a single floor building with four aivan's court surrounded by hujrais. The Eastern entrance portal faces the town's square. The crowned with 2 domes mosque and with galleries on the both sides is in the west part of the court. There is the front wall decorated with the numerous glazed tiles, bricked mosaics. The panelling of timpan imitates the herald emblem the tiger tearing the doe was renewed. People called the medresseh as Sherdori-Berun. The total area is 84,5m x 50,0 m.
THE HAZRAT KHIZRS MOSQUE (XI-XX)
This mosque places in the south of Afrasiab, the site where ancient Samarkand was situated not far from the route Samarkand-Tashkent. The name of this mosque is associated with the name of the legendary owner of Alive water and the patron of travelers - Khizr. The cult of Khizr had ascended to the times before Islam. The preserved building till our days was built in the middle of the XIX century on the place of former settlement. The time left us the legends and traces about this fact.
The main components of mosque are the crowned ivan, darvoza-hona with portal and the oriental minaret standing separately, elaborately carved ganch doors, columns, there were artists who created the ceiling paintings marvelous plan and geometrical designs and the workers in clay, ivory inlaid works, ornaments panoes with glazed tiles framed and decorated by two raw of stalactites cornice. It was restored and decorated in 1919. The total area is 30,0m x 16,0 m.
THE RUKHABAD
The majestic Burhaniddin Sagardji's Mausoleum, the sheikh, was built in the 80th years of XIV century. It is one of the unique, no less magnificent example of centric type building. All facades of its monument are equal. Here one sees that each of the centers glazed terracotta in fanciful patterns, colorful majolica and beautiful Mosaic of glazed brick. There are decorated archs. The cube of foundation, the eight-tangled arch tier, the coned dome over them are formed the composition as the whole. The total area is 14 m x 12 m.
THE KHODJA AHROR'S MOSQUE (XV-XX)
This mosque as a cult memorial ensemble is situated within 4 kilometres to the south of the Registan Sguare. The case of the prominent regions figure and the ruler of the country indeed - Khodja Ahror gave the opportunity to built near this mosque. This mosque contains the medresseh with the elements of more ancient dwellings, winter and summer mosque, the spacious house, minarets and storages.
Source: Samarkand by R.Klichev, V.Nikonov, K.Khasanov
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