Amir-Zadeh (1386), Tuglu-Tekin, daughter of Amir Khoja, Timur's niece Shadi-Mulk (Turkan)

The middle group of buildings consists of a group of mausoleums of Timur's time, the burial place of his relatives and prominent military and religious leaders. These buildings date from the last quarter of the XIV - XV centuries beginning. Among them are the mausoleums of Amir-Zadeh (1386), Tuglu-Tekin, daughter of Amir Khoja, Timur's niece Shadi-Mulk (Turkan) (1371-1372) and Timur's sister Shirin Bika (1385-1386).

The last two mausoleums are best preserved.



Already in the XII century, near the grave of Kussam Ibn Abbas was buried who used a special respect. For the first time, a detailed description of the Mausoleum gives the Arab traveler, "Herodotus of the Arab world" - Ibn Battuta, who visited Samarkand in the 30s of the XIV century, and ranked him "among the largest, well-equipped and beautiful city": "The grave is blessed. Over it is erected a square building with a dome, at every corner there are two marble columns, marble, green, black, white and red. The walls of the building, too, from multi-colored marble with gold ornaments, the roof is made of lead. " Since then, the building was rebuilt several times, and faced the blue and colored tiles and mosaics.

Shahi Zinda - the only one in Samarkand, archeological and architectural monument, which, including the cultural layers of Afrasiab, affected nearly three thousand years history of the city.



Shahi Zinda ensemble was formed during nine centuries and includes more than twenty plants IX-XIV and XIX centuries. His name Shohi Zinda - "The Living King" - a set of required legend. It says that a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, Kusam Ibn Abbas came to Samarkand with a small army for approval Islam this day.



facades of these buildings are composed of small one-hall in the form of a portal with a rich and colorful decor. Not far from the mausoleum of Shirin Bika, markedly different from other facilities, located Octagonal mausoleum of the first half of the XV century to open on the sides of openings. It is decorated with mosaics of glazed bricks, and probably was initially blocked by a dome on a high cylindrical drum.

Center of the whole ensemble is complex of Kusam ibn-Abbas, which includes several buildings, among which the most ancient - the mausoleum Kusam ibn-Abbas and Mosque by the XVI century. The complex has a door with the date 1404-1405. Decorated with carvings and original inlaid with ivory.




SHAHI ZINDA

MAUSOLEUM COMPLEX
On the northern outskirts of Samarkand, on the edge of Afrasiab hill, at the vast ancient cemetery, is a complex of mausoleums.

Shahi Zinda (Persian - «The Living King"), among which the most famous is the Mausoleum of Kussam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.