The Bibi-Khanym Mosque (Uzbek: Bibixonim masjidi; Persian: مسجد بی بی خانم; also variously spelled as Khanum, Khanom, Hanum, Hanim) is one of the most important monuments of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In the 15th century, it was one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world. It is considered a masterpiece of the Timurid Renaissance. By the mid-20th century, only a grandiose ruin of it still survived, but major parts of the mosque were restored during the Soviet period.
A photograph taken sometime between 1905 and 1915 by color photography pioneer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii shows the mosque's appearance after its collapse in the earthquake of 1897.
After his Indian campaign[1] in 1399, Timur (Tamerlane) decided to undertake the construction of a gigantic mosque in his new capital, Samarkand. When Timur returned from his military campaign in 1404 the mosque was almost completed. However, Timur was not happy with the progress of construction, and immediately had various changes made, especially on the main cupola.[2]
From the beginning of the construction, problems of structural integrity of the structure revealed themselves. Various reconstructions and reinforcements were undertaken in order to save the mosque. However, after just a few years, the first bricks had begun to fall out of the huge dome over the mihrab.[3] The scale of Timur's plans pushed the building techniques of the time to their limit, and the building's integrity was not helped by the rushed nature of its construction.[4][5]
In the late 16th century, the Abdullah Khan II (Abdollah Khan Ozbeg) (1533/4-1598), the last Shaybanid Dynasty Khan of Bukhara, cancelled all restoration works in Bibi-Khanym Mosque.[6] After that, the mosque slowly deteriorated and became a ruins gnawed at by the wind, weather, and earthquakes. The inner arch of the portal construction finally collapsed in an earthquake in 1897.[7][8] During the centuries the ruins were plundered by the inhabitants of Samarkand in search of building material, especially the brick of the masonry galleries along with the marble columns.
A first basic investigation into securing the ruins was made in Soviet times. Late in the 20th century, the Uzbek government began restoration of three dome buildings and the main portal. In 1974 the government of the then-Uzbek SSR began the complex reconstruction of the mosque.[9] The decoration of domes and facades was extensively restored and supplemented. During these restorations, a band of inscriptions revealing Surat al-Baqarah of the Quran was added to the main sanctuary iwan of the mosque.[10] As of 2016, work on the mosque restoration was ongoing.[11][better source needed]
ArchitectureEdit
According to the manuscripts, the mosque was erected by the order of Timur in 1399-1405. It possesses the traits typical for many Muslim medieval constructions, especially aivanyard compositions.[12] The mosque follows the basic plan of the courtyard mosque. Its outer walls enclose a rectangular area which measures 167 metres (182.63 yards) in length and 109 metres (119.20 yards) wide and runs roughly from northeast to southwest — the Qibla accordingly. However the size of the site vacant of covered galleries was only 78 by 64 meters.[13]
The cupola of the main chamber is 40 m high.
Entering the Mosque from the northeast through the vast (35 metres high)[14] parade portal leads to the courtyard. A monumental dome above a square base, around 40 m[15] high, rises on the opposite site of the courtyard. The dome is the largest cupola of the mosque. Nevertheless, the dome cannot be seen from the courtyard, for whole building is covered up from inside by the grandiose pischtak, which framed a monumental, deeply embedded iwan. The iwan does not allow getting inside the underlying construction supporting the dome; this can only be done from the sides. Two other domes associated with the iwans, more modest in size, face the center of the long sides of the courtyard. Thus the Bibi-Khanym Mosque implements the classic architectural type of the "four-iwan scheme".[16]
Formerly, there were open galleries measuring 7.2 m high inside the courtyard. Their cover was formed from the juxtaposition of many small, flat brick vaults and domes supported by a forest of more than 400 marble columns and buttresses. Today, only hints of the galleries can be seen.
Four minarets at the outer corners of the site have been restored. Four other, more majestic minarets that flanked the Portal arch of the entrance and the Pischtak of the main domed building are not completed yet.
In the middle of the courtyard is located the stone pedestal — the huge Quran stand[17] — crafted from ornate marble blocks. This remarkable sight originates from the time of Timur.
The huge Bibi-Khanym Mosque with its three domed rooms, the covered galleries and the open courtyard was intended to gather the entire male population of Samarkand city for the joint Friday prayers.[13]
In the construction of three domes of Bibi-Khanym mosque, sophisticated in Timur's time, one important innovation was applied: a two-fold construction, where the internal dome hall neither by the form nor by height corresponds to the dome's shape from outside. There is a hollow space between the inner ceiling and the outer cupola. This dome construction allowed the main hall of the mosque to be committed to the proportions and the aesthetics of the 30 m high interior above the mihrab. Meanwhile, the 40 m high outer dome of the main building could be designed for maximal impression and visibility. This scheme was applied also to the lateral dome structures that allowed making modest buildings the figuration tower-like structures with elegant melon-shaped and longitudinally ribbed outer domes.[13]
The interiors of the mosque contain gilding, imitating local brocade embroideries.[18] Bibi-Khanym mosque was one of the most ambitious architectural projects of the Timurid period[19] and influenced the architecture of Central Asia as well as of Iran and Afghanistan.[20]
^. iExplore.com. July 14, 2001. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
^Paskaleva, Elena. "Epigraphic restorations of Timurid architectural heritage" (PDF). iias.asia. International Institute for Asian Studies. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
^S., Samhita (2016-06-13). "Photo: "restoration work in progress inside the mosque" (from review: "Very enchanting mosque: A must visit")". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
^"Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage" (PDF). unesco.org. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
^ abcDmitriy Page. "Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand". Retrieved October 6, 2015.
^Carillet, Joel (June 6, 2006). . Gather.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-11. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
^Muzey.uz, Соборная мечеть Биби-Ханым 2007-11-21 at the Wayback Machine (Bibi-Khanym Mosque) (in Russian)
^Alfred Renz: Geschichte und Stätten des Islam von Spanien bis Indien. Prestel, München 1977. ISBN3-7913-0360-0.
^Burnett, Doug (September 7, 2000). . BootsnAll.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
^Hrbas, Miloš; Knobloch, Edgar (1965). The Art of Central Asia. Hamlyn. p. 20-22.
^Paskaleva, Elena. "Epigraphic restorations of Timurid architectural heritage" (PDF). iias.asia. International Institute for Asian Studies. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
^"Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage" (PDF). unesco.org. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
Bibi-Khanym Mosque photos and information
Location of the Mosque
Square Kufic on the Bibi Khanum Mosque
October 20, 2023
bibi, khanym, mosque, uzbek, bibixonim, masjidi, persian, مسجد, بی, بی, خانم, also, variously, spelled, khanum, khanom, hanum, hanim, most, important, monuments, samarkand, uzbekistan, 15th, century, largest, most, magnificent, mosques, islamic, world, conside. The Bibi Khanym Mosque Uzbek Bibixonim masjidi Persian مسجد بی بی خانم also variously spelled as Khanum Khanom Hanum Hanim is one of the most important monuments of Samarkand Uzbekistan In the 15th century it was one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world It is considered a masterpiece of the Timurid Renaissance By the mid 20th century only a grandiose ruin of it still survived but major parts of the mosque were restored during the Soviet period Bibi Khanym MosqueReligionAffiliationIslamLocationLocationSamarkand UzbekistanShown within UzbekistanGeographic coordinates39 39 38 N 66 58 45 E 39 66056 N 66 97917 E 39 66056 66 97917ArchitectureTypemosqueStyleTimuridCompleted1404Dome height outer 40 m A photograph taken sometime between 1905 and 1915 by color photography pioneer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin Gorskii shows the mosque s appearance after its collapse in the earthquake of 1897 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit nbsp Stone Koran standAfter his Indian campaign 1 in 1399 Timur Tamerlane decided to undertake the construction of a gigantic mosque in his new capital Samarkand When Timur returned from his military campaign in 1404 the mosque was almost completed However Timur was not happy with the progress of construction and immediately had various changes made especially on the main cupola 2 From the beginning of the construction problems of structural integrity of the structure revealed themselves Various reconstructions and reinforcements were undertaken in order to save the mosque However after just a few years the first bricks had begun to fall out of the huge dome over the mihrab 3 The scale of Timur s plans pushed the building techniques of the time to their limit and the building s integrity was not helped by the rushed nature of its construction 4 5 In the late 16th century the Abdullah Khan II Abdollah Khan Ozbeg 1533 4 1598 the last Shaybanid Dynasty Khan of Bukhara cancelled all restoration works in Bibi Khanym Mosque 6 After that the mosque slowly deteriorated and became a ruins gnawed at by the wind weather and earthquakes The inner arch of the portal construction finally collapsed in an earthquake in 1897 7 8 During the centuries the ruins were plundered by the inhabitants of Samarkand in search of building material especially the brick of the masonry galleries along with the marble columns A first basic investigation into securing the ruins was made in Soviet times Late in the 20th century the Uzbek government began restoration of three dome buildings and the main portal In 1974 the government of the then Uzbek SSR began the complex reconstruction of the mosque 9 The decoration of domes and facades was extensively restored and supplemented During these restorations a band of inscriptions revealing Surat al Baqarah of the Quran was added to the main sanctuary iwan of the mosque 10 As of 2016 work on the mosque restoration was ongoing 11 better source needed Architecture EditAccording to the manuscripts the mosque was erected by the order of Timur in 1399 1405 It possesses the traits typical for many Muslim medieval constructions especially aivanyard compositions 12 The mosque follows the basic plan of the courtyard mosque Its outer walls enclose a rectangular area which measures 167 metres 182 63 yards in length and 109 metres 119 20 yards wide and runs roughly from northeast to southwest the Qibla accordingly However the size of the site vacant of covered galleries was only 78 by 64 meters 13 nbsp The cupola of the main chamber is 40 m high Entering the Mosque from the northeast through the vast 35 metres high 14 parade portal leads to the courtyard A monumental dome above a square base around 40 m 15 high rises on the opposite site of the courtyard The dome is the largest cupola of the mosque Nevertheless the dome cannot be seen from the courtyard for whole building is covered up from inside by the grandiose pischtak which framed a monumental deeply embedded iwan The iwan does not allow getting inside the underlying construction supporting the dome this can only be done from the sides Two other domes associated with the iwans more modest in size face the center of the long sides of the courtyard Thus the Bibi Khanym Mosque implements the classic architectural type of the four iwan scheme 16 Formerly there were open galleries measuring 7 2 m high inside the courtyard Their cover was formed from the juxtaposition of many small flat brick vaults and domes supported by a forest of more than 400 marble columns and buttresses Today only hints of the galleries can be seen Four minarets at the outer corners of the site have been restored Four other more majestic minarets that flanked the Portal arch of the entrance and the Pischtak of the main domed building are not completed yet In the middle of the courtyard is located the stone pedestal the huge Quran stand 17 crafted from ornate marble blocks This remarkable sight originates from the time of Timur The huge Bibi Khanym Mosque with its three domed rooms the covered galleries and the open courtyard was intended to gather the entire male population of Samarkand city for the joint Friday prayers 13 In the construction of three domes of Bibi Khanym mosque sophisticated in Timur s time one important innovation was applied a two fold construction where the internal dome hall neither by the form nor by height corresponds to the dome s shape from outside There is a hollow space between the inner ceiling and the outer cupola This dome construction allowed the main hall of the mosque to be committed to the proportions and the aesthetics of the 30 m high interior above the mihrab Meanwhile the 40 m high outer dome of the main building could be designed for maximal impression and visibility This scheme was applied also to the lateral dome structures that allowed making modest buildings the figuration tower like structures with elegant melon shaped and longitudinally ribbed outer domes 13 The interiors of the mosque contain gilding imitating local brocade embroideries 18 Bibi Khanym mosque was one of the most ambitious architectural projects of the Timurid period 19 and influenced the architecture of Central Asia as well as of Iran and Afghanistan 20 Gallery Edit nbsp Facade nbsp 1st Facade nbsp 2nd FacadeSee also EditGur e Amir Shah i Zinda Registan Tourism in Uzbekistan History of Persian domesReferences Edit Bibi Khanym mosque Skiouros net Archived from the original on September 28 2007 Retrieved 2007 04 06 Zohidov Pylat Temur davrining memorij kahkashoni Toshkent Shark 1966 Zakhidov Pulat Architectural glories of Temur s era Tashkent Sharq 1996 p 58 Samarkand Buhara Galina Pugachenkova Iskusstvo 1968 g p 30 Samarkand City Stantours com April 24 2002 Archived from the original on 3 May 2007 Retrieved 2007 04 06 Highlights of CA PDF Steppes Travel March 22 2006 Archived from the original PDF on September 30 2007 Retrieved 2007 04 06 Zohidov Pylat Temur davrining memorij kahkashoni Toshkent Shark 1966 Zakhidov Pulat Architectural glories of Temur s era Tashkent Sharq 1996 p 59 Zohidov Pylat Temur davrining memorij kahkashoni Toshkent Shark 1966 Zakhidov Pulat Architectural glories of Temur s era Tashkent Sharq 1996 p 57 Bibi Khanym Mosque TripAdvisor com Retrieved 2007 04 06 Bibi Khanym Mosque iExplore com July 14 2001 Archived from the original on December 22 2007 Retrieved 2007 04 06 Paskaleva Elena Epigraphic restorations of Timurid architectural heritage PDF iias asia International Institute for Asian Studies Retrieved 6 October 2018 S Samhita 2016 06 13 Photo restoration work in progress inside the mosque from review Very enchanting mosque A must visit TripAdvisor Retrieved 2018 07 18 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage PDF unesco org United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization a b c Dmitriy Page Bibi Khanym Mosque in Samarkand Retrieved October 6 2015 Carillet Joel June 6 2006 In Pictures Samarkand Uzbekistan Gather com Archived from the original on 2007 02 11 Retrieved 2007 04 06 Muzey uz Sobornaya mechet Bibi Hanym Archived 2007 11 21 at the Wayback Machine Bibi Khanym Mosque in Russian Alfred Renz Geschichte und Statten des Islam von Spanien bis Indien Prestel Munchen 1977 ISBN 3 7913 0360 0 Burnett Doug September 7 2000 Uzbekistan 2000 Samarkand BootsnAll com Archived from the original on May 16 2011 Retrieved 2007 04 06 Hrbas Milos Knobloch Edgar 1965 The Art of Central Asia Hamlyn p 20 22 Paskaleva Elena Epigraphic restorations of Timurid architectural heritage PDF iias asia International Institute for Asian Studies Retrieved 6 October 2018 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and National Heritage PDF unesco org United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bibi Khanym Mosque Bibi Khanym Mosque photos and information 360 view of the Mosque Location of the Mosque Square Kufic on the Bibi Khanum Mosque Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bibi Khanym Mosque amp oldid 1137027640, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
