The Shirvanshahs` family tomb

 

The Shirvanshahs` family tomb is of rectangular form in the plane and crowned with a hexagonal cupola ornamented with multiradial stars from the outside. Initially, the planes of cupola recesses were lined with bricks with light-blue glaze. It is confirmed by traveller I.Lerkh, who visited Baku in 1733. He wrote: "The roofing of the tomb is covered with azure-coloured stones".

The inscription over the entrance informs about the purpose of the building: "The Greatest Sultan, great Shirvanshah namesake of God`s Prophet, defence of religion, Khalilullah I, ordered to build this bright tomb for his mother and son in 839" (1435-36). The hexagonal rosette with the name of Ali repeated twelwth is placed above the arch. The top of the portal is crowned with inscription from the Koran, gloriflying the Allah. There are inscriptions with the name of architect - Ali - inside the medalions of tear-drop form at the timphons of the portal entrance. The some inscriptions are repeated twice in each medalion: in direct and mirror reflection. With the great skill and art the architect carved his name at the Shah`s tomb, which was unknown for a long time and read just in 1945 by Azerbaijanian scientists.

The burial premise with the cupola is in centre of the building.

Some sources inform that in 1501 after the death of Shirvanshah Farruh-Yassar the Shah Ismail`s troops toor of a fortress Baku and committed the remains to the flames. However, the archeologists works in 1945 refuted this version. The graves were perfectly safe but without tomb stones.

Archeological exavations have been confirmed by the inscriptions informing the fact that besides the mother and son of the Shah Khalilullah I, there were buried another members of the family. While the clearing the burials there were found the stuff parts (tirme) with the geometrical ornament medalions with the inscriptions in Arabic script, some sky-blue beads, golden pin with turquoise and six rubies, golden ear-rinos. At present these materials are kept at the funds of Azerbaijanian Museum of History.


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