Description of the attraction
The Samanid Mausoleum is the tomb of three representatives of the famous Tajik dynasty of rulers who owned a vast territory, including the city of Bukhara, in the 9th-10th centuries. It is precisely established that one of the burials in the mausoleum belongs to the son of the founder of the Samanid dynasty - Ismail. The other two tombs are believed to contain the remains of Ismail himself and his grandson.
The tomb of the Samanids, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, was built in 892-943. It is located in the historical center of Bukhara, in the Samanid park. This building was discovered under a two-meter layer of earth in the last century and restored. Now it can be viewed from all sides, which is what the unknown architect wanted while working on his architectural masterpiece. And there is no doubt that this building has long been recognized as a masterpiece. Firstly, this is the only building erected by the Samanids that has survived to our time. Secondly, the Samanid mausoleum is recognized as the oldest example of Islamic architecture in the territory of both Bukhara and the whole of Central Asia. Finally, this is a unique example of a deviation from the rules of Islam, which prohibit the construction of covered tombs. Outwardly, the Samanid mausoleum resembles the temples of fire worshipers. That is, an unknown architect borrowed architectural details from buildings of the pre-Arab era.
The Samanid mausoleum was built in the form of a cube. Each corner is decorated with columns that support open arched galleries. The structure is crowned with a large dome. You can get inside through four portals.
