Dehistan/Mishrian
The former city of Dehistan/Mashhad-i Misrian (Turkmen: Dehistan), now in the Balkan Region of western Turkmenistan, was a major economic center from the 10th to the 14th centuries CE. The city lay on an important trade route of the states comprising Greater Iran.[1]
Sites
[edit]Misrian
[edit]A double-walled city punctuated with guard-towers, Misrian was abandoned c. 15th century.[1][2] Only a few monuments survive:[2]
- Mosque of Khorezmshah Mohammed: Nothing stands except the two side columns of the main portal —18 m. in height, decorated with brickwork and turquoise glaze to render floral and geometric patterns— and a minaret at the corner of courtyard.[2] The foundation of the mosque, comprising numerous fired-brick columns, have been excavated and restored.[2] In the center of the courtyard, Niyazov had installed 3 evergreen trees within a fence in 1993.[2]
- Abu-Jafar Ahmed Minaret: About 120 m. away from the courtyard minaret, this was designed by one Abu Bini Ziyad c. early 11th century.[2] It features two rings of Arab inscriptions, and a higher ring of geometric motifs.[2] A spiral staircase can be used to access the top.[2]
- Caravansarays: Excavations have discovered bases of multiple caravansarays.[2]
Mashat
[edit]A medieval graveyard, the site houses five mausoleums along a single line; in nineteenth century, there were apparently about twenty.[2] All are either circular or octagonal, and lack in domes.[2] Adjacent to this line, is located the Shir-kabir Mosque-Maousoleum atop a mound.[3][4] Dated to 9th/10th century, this is the oldest extant mosque in Turkmenistan
World Heritage Status
[edit]This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on February 25, 1998, in the Cultural category.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Dehistan / Mishrian - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- ^ Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- ^ Gye, David; Hillenbrand, Robert (2001). "Mausolea at Merv and Dehistan". Iran. 39: 53–54. ISSN 0578-6967.
External links
[edit]- Mosque of Khorezmshah Mohammed:
- Abu-Jafar Ahmed Minaret:
- Image snapped from some distance. Mosque of Khorezmshah Mohammed is visible in the background.
- Shir-kabir Mosque-Maousoleum:
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