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The Mausoleum of Shah Khamush in Tajikistan

The Mausoleum of Shah Khamush in Tajikistan
The Mausoleum of Shah Khamush is a historical monument dating back to the 13th–14th centuries, located in the village of Langari Kalon in the Muminabad district. The structure has a rectangular shape (measuring 12 × 8 meters) and is built of fired bricks sized 25 × 25 × 4.5 cm.
The main façade, which includes the entrance, faces east and is adorned with a decorative portal (pishtaq). This portal occupies a significant portion of the façade, with elongated projections visible on both sides of the entrance. Above the portal, there is a wall made of sun-dried bricks featuring three pointed openings. The arches of the façade are decorated with branch-like ornamental patterns.
The mausoleum consists of two parts: a pilgrimage chamber (ziyarat-khana) and a burial chamber (gorkhana). The ziyarat-khana is relatively small in size (3 × 4 meters) and is covered by a dome with Balkhi-style vaults. The square form of the burial chamber is expanded by four arches. One of these arches, located on the eastern side, connects the burial chamber to the ziyarat-khana. The other two pointed arches are decorated with star-shaped lattice windows. The dome of the burial chamber rests on an octagonal base.
This mausoleum is considered an example of a local architectural school. In 1982, the monument was studied by the State Department for the Protection of Historical Monuments of Tajikistan, and a restoration plan was prepared (architects: H. Ziyaev and I. Tashf). As a result of these studies, it was determined that a crypt lies beneath the burial chamber. The crypt has a height of 2 meters and is covered with Balkhi vaulting. Three individuals are buried there in open brick coffins. The walls of the burial chamber are constructed at a greater distance from the walls of the crypt. Furthermore, excavations carried out around the structure confirmed that the mausoleum was built in the 13th–14th centuries.

 

 

 

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