Shakh-I-Zinda Necropolis

Shakh-I-Zinda Necropolis is located in the north Samarkand, on the hills of ancient Afrosiab. The historical center of the Necropolis is Mausoleum of Kusama ibn Abbas. As Arabian chronicles say, prophet Mukhammed’s cousin Kusama arrived in Samarkand in 676. He advocated Islam religion and was murdered by pagans when he was praying. But the folk knows him as Shakh-I-Zinda – “Alive King”, as per legend he has left this world alive. His tomb was sacred for Muslims for many centuries. And nowadays, Shakh-I-Zinda is popular among Muslim pilgrims.

Famous persons were buried near the Abbas’s tomb. Amir Timur ordered to build mausoleums for his relatives and generals here in XIV-XV centuries.  Thus, the range of mausoleums Shakh-I-Zinda has appeared.

The necropolis consists of three parts including more than 14 mausoleums. The oldest mausoleum of Kusama ibn Abbas was built in XI century. It has four stores and is decorated with tiles. Quotations from Koran are inscribed on the cheeks of the third and fourth stages.

In the south of Necropolis there is an entrance arch, erected by Mirzo Ulugbek, grandson of Amir Timur, in 1434-1435.

The first part of necropolis includes a two-chambered mausoleum, where Amir Timur’s wet-nurse is buried. This part is connected with the second one with 36 step stair. The second part performs a narrow corridor of mausoleums on both sides, which were built in XIV-XV centuries.

The design of mausoleums is a truly piece of Muslims architectural art. Here could be found mausoleum of Timur’s sister- Shirin Beki aka, which was first time decorated with filigree mosaic. On the opposed side there is a mausoleum of Shadi Mulk aka- Timur’s niece, daughter of his elder sister Kutlug-Turkan aka. Perhaps, she was buried by the side of her child. This mausoleum is a first construction of the Necropolis built during Timur’s ruling. Architects used majolica, mosaic and carved terra cotta in its surfacing. The internal décor of the building is also decorated with majolica tiles.

The closest to Kusama’s mausoleum is tomb of Tuman aka – Timur’s wife. Her mausoleum is decorated with polychromatic mosaic and walls are painted with flowering ornaments. The earliest mausoleums are located in the end of the so called “corridor” of the Necropolis. Mausoleum in honor of Khodja Akhmad was built in XIV century.  Its decoration performs a slip bricks, painted majolica and embossed tiles. Scaled reconstructions were held by architects of Uzbekistan in 2005.

Shakh-I-Zinda, with its distinguished design and decoration, takes its deserved place among other monuments of the East.