historical architecture of Uzbekistan

chris cambré, Jan 19, 2023

In his Mathew Passion Bach takes you along in an engaging voyage for 3 hours long, forgetting about everything else. At the same time each chord of the long score is well considered. As well lightning, the clothes of the actors etc. in each scene of an immersive movie are specified. This is also the case in Islamic architecture. Uzbek historical cities Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand are architectural treasuries. You can look at it or write about it in different ways. In this GeoGebrabook I focus on buildings with a loupe. Starting with pictures I took on a recent trip I try to show the geometry of the decorative patterns. I look at the muqarnas in vaults and at the calligraphic writings on the walls. In short, I look at the script , the light ans the music score of a movie on a fascinating story Enjoy! Before I already published some GG work on islamic architecture. You can find more background on geometric patterns at [url]https://www.geogebra.org/m/kxp4qekc[/url] and on muqarnas at [url]https://www.geogebra.org/m/n7ps6rtv[/url]. Don't forget to take a look at the very informative website [url]https://orientalarchitecture.com[/url]. The website [url]http://www.kufic.info/architecture/architecture.htm[/url] learned me a lot on Kufic writing. The article of Mamoun Sakkal (2018) Intersecting squares: applied geometry in the architecture of Timurid Samarkand, Journal of Mathematics and the Arts [url]https://doi.org/10.1080/17513472.2018.1468178[/url] guided me through the Bibi Khanum mosque in Samarkand, at [url]https://www.archnet.org/publications/13238[/url] I found a ppt giving explanations of the inscriptions on buildings during the Timurid period and while analyzing complex geometric patterns Goossen Karssenberg was always willing to assist with all his experience. Apart of all this there's a lot of academic published work, as 'The Bukharan school of architecture in the 15th-17th century' by Mavlyuda Abbasova-Yusupova [url]https://www.unesco-iicas.org/book/152[/url] and much more.

Table of Contents

  1. introduction geometric patterns
    1. the Alhambra
    2. Hankins: Poygons in contact
    3. octagons
    4. octagons - median
    5. girih tiles
  2. introduction - muqarnas
    1. dome with cantilever construction
    2. constructing muqarnas
    3. construction with cells
    4. detail of facade
    5. shaped surfaces
    6. muqarnas in Uzbekistan
  3. introduction - Kufic script
    1. Kufic callygraphic writing
  4. introduction - decoration: material and technique
    1. Arranging bricks
    2. Glazed polychrome decoration
    3. Arranging coloured and glazed bricks
    4. Carving and relief
    5. Cut mosaic tiles
  5. Mizdakhan
    1. Mizdakhan - mu
    2. Mizdahkan (2)-(mu)
  6. Khiva
    1. Khiva
    2. Kuhna Ark - summer mosque (side wall) - gp
    3. Kuhna Ark summer mosque (rear wall) - gp
    4. Kuhna Ark - summer mosque (rear wall 2) - gp
    5. Kuhna Ark - summer mosque (rear wall 3) - gp
    6. Kuhna Ark - pattern and tiles - gp
    7. Kuhna Ark throne room - gp
    8. Tash Hauli palace - gp
    9. Tash Hauli - column - gp
    10. Tash Hauli palace - wall pannel - gp
    11. Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasa - gp
  7. Bukhara
    1. Bukhara
    2. Amiran hotel - gp
    3. Kalon mosque - spandrel of the east iwan - gp
    4. Kalon mosque - niche in the east iwan - gp
    5. Kalon mosque geometric pattern along the side - gp
    6. Kalon mosque spandrel at the inner court - gp
    7. Kalon minaret - mu
    8. Nadir Divanbegi Khanagah - gp
    9. Nadar Divanbegi madrassa - spandrel
    10. Nadar Divanbegi madrassa - pattern iwan
    11. Nadar Divanbegi madrassa - niches
    12. Abdullah Khan madrassa - gp
    13. Abdul Aziz madrassa - mu
    14. Abdul Aziz madrassa (2) - mu
    15. Bolo Hauz mosque - mu
    16. Fortress - mu
    17. Magok-i-Atari mosque - gp
    18. Ismail Samani mausoleum
  8. Shakhrisabz
    1. Ak Saray palace - ks
    2. Ak Saray tower 1 - ks
    3. Ak saray - tower 2 - ks
    4. Ak Saray - detail - ks
    5. Ak Saray - geometrical pattern - gp
  9. Samarkand
    1. Samarkand
  10. Samarkand- Registan - Ulug Beg
    1. Ulug Beg madrassa - spandrel - gp
    2. Ulug Beg madrassa - muqarna
    3. Ulug Beg madrassa - minaret - mu
    4. Ulug Beg madrassa panel - gp
    5. Ulug Beg madrassa panel (2) - gp
  11. Samarkand- Registan - Shir Dor madrassa
    1. Shir-Dor madrassa pishtaq - ks
    2. Kopie vanShir Dor -pishtaq (2) - ks
    3. Shir Dor madrassa - south wall - ks
    4. Shir Dor -patroon entrance - gp
    5. Shir Dor minaret - ks
    6. Shir Dor - minaret (2) - mu
    7. Shir Dor spandrel
  12. Samarkand - Shah-i-zinda
    1. Shah-i-zinda
    2. Shah-i-zinda Entrance Gate
    3. 18 Khodja Akhmad mausoleum
    4. 18 Khodjah Akhmad mausoleum - gp
    5. 19 Kutlug Aka mausoleum
    6. 16 Tuman Aqa mosque
    7. 17 Tuman Aqa mausoleum
    8. 10 Shadi Mulk Aka
    9. 12 Alim Nasafi Mausoleum
    10. 12 Alim Nasafi mausoleum (2)
    11. 9 Shirin Bika mausoleum
    12. 9 Shirin Bika mausoleum - interieur
    13. 8 Amir Zade mausoleum
    14. 8 Amir Zade mausoleum
    15. 7 Amir Hussein mausoleum
    16. 5 Qazi Zadeh Rumi
    17. 18 Khodjah Akhmad mausoleum - pattern
  13. Samarkand - Bibi Khanum moskee
    1. Bibi Khanum mosque (1399-1405)
    2. Bibi Khanum mosque - spandrel - gp
    3. Bibi Khanum mosque vault
    4. Bibi Khanum mosque - weave pattern side wall - ks
    5. Bibi Khanum mosque - cross pattern - ks
    6. Bibi Khanum mosque - S-wheel pattern - ks
    7. Bibi Khanum moskee - square pattern- ks
    8. Bibi Khanun mosque - gear pattern - ks
    9. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - minarets - ks
    10. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - panel 1 - ks
    11. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - panel 2 - ks
    12. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - verticale stroken - ks
    13. Bibi Khanun entrance gate inside wall - ks
  14. Samarkand Gur Emir
    1. Gur Emir complex - mu
    2. Gur Emir mausoleum - mu
    3. Gur Emir minarets - ks
    4. Gur Emir wall pattern - ks
    5. interior - domes - mu
    6. interior - wal panels - gp
    7. interior - squares with kufic writing
    8. exterior small panels
  15. Tashkent
    1. Kukeldash madrassa - gp and ks
    2. Kukeldash madrassa (2) - gp

1.

introduction geometric patterns

  • 1. the Alhambra
  • 2. Hankins: Poygons in contact
  • 3. octagons
  • 4. octagons - median
  • 5. girih tiles

1.1.

–

1.2.

–

1.3.

–

1.4.

–

1.5.

–

2.

introduction - muqarnas

  • 1. dome with cantilever construction
  • 2. constructing muqarnas
  • 3. construction with cells
  • 4. detail of facade
  • 5. shaped surfaces
  • 6. muqarnas in Uzbekistan

2.1.

–

2.2.

–

2.3.

–

2.4.

–

2.5.

–

2.6.

–

3.

introduction - Kufic script

  • 1. Kufic callygraphic writing

3.1.

–

4.

introduction - decoration: material and technique

  • 1. Arranging bricks
  • 2. Glazed polychrome decoration
  • 3. Arranging coloured and glazed bricks
  • 4. Carving and relief
  • 5. Cut mosaic tiles

4.1.

–

4.2.

–

4.3.

–

4.4.

–

4.5.

–

5.

Mizdakhan

  • 1. Mizdakhan - mu
  • 2. Mizdahkan (2)-(mu)

5.1.

–

5.2.

–

6.

Khiva

  • 1. Khiva
  • 2. Kuhna Ark - summer mosque (side wall) - gp
  • 3. Kuhna Ark summer mosque (rear wall) - gp
  • 4. Kuhna Ark - summer mosque (rear wall 2) - gp
  • 5. Kuhna Ark - summer mosque (rear wall 3) - gp
  • 6. Kuhna Ark - pattern and tiles - gp
  • 7. Kuhna Ark throne room - gp
  • 8. Tash Hauli palace - gp
  • 9. Tash Hauli - column - gp
  • 10. Tash Hauli palace - wall pannel - gp
  • 11. Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrasa - gp

6.1.

–

6.2.

–

6.3.

–

6.4.

–

6.5.

–

6.6.

–

6.7.

–

6.8.

–

6.9.

–

6.10.

–

6.11.

–

7.

Bukhara

  • 1. Bukhara
  • 2. Amiran hotel - gp
  • 3. Kalon mosque - spandrel of the east iwan - gp
  • 4. Kalon mosque - niche in the east iwan - gp
  • 5. Kalon mosque geometric pattern along the side - gp
  • 6. Kalon mosque spandrel at the inner court - gp
  • 7. Kalon minaret - mu
  • 8. Nadir Divanbegi Khanagah - gp
  • 9. Nadar Divanbegi madrassa - spandrel
  • 10. Nadar Divanbegi madrassa - pattern iwan
  • 11. Nadar Divanbegi madrassa - niches
  • 12. Abdullah Khan madrassa - gp
  • 13. Abdul Aziz madrassa - mu
  • 14. Abdul Aziz madrassa (2) - mu
  • 15. Bolo Hauz mosque - mu
  • 16. Fortress - mu
  • 17. Magok-i-Atari mosque - gp
  • 18. Ismail Samani mausoleum

7.1.

–

7.2.

–

7.3.

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7.4.

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7.5.

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7.6.

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7.7.

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7.8.

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7.9.

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7.10.

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7.11.

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7.12.

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7.13.

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7.14.

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7.15.

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7.16.

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7.17.

–

7.18.

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8.

Shakhrisabz

  • 1. Ak Saray palace - ks
  • 2. Ak Saray tower 1 - ks
  • 3. Ak saray - tower 2 - ks
  • 4. Ak Saray - detail - ks
  • 5. Ak Saray - geometrical pattern - gp

8.1.

–

8.2.

–

8.3.

–

8.4.

–

8.5.

–

9.

Samarkand

  • 1. Samarkand

9.1.

–

10.

Samarkand- Registan - Ulug Beg

  • 1. Ulug Beg madrassa - spandrel - gp
  • 2. Ulug Beg madrassa - muqarna
  • 3. Ulug Beg madrassa - minaret - mu
  • 4. Ulug Beg madrassa panel - gp
  • 5. Ulug Beg madrassa panel (2) - gp

10.1.

–

10.2.

–

10.3.

–

10.4.

–

10.5.

–

11.

Samarkand- Registan - Shir Dor madrassa

  • 1. Shir-Dor madrassa pishtaq - ks
  • 2. Kopie vanShir Dor -pishtaq (2) - ks
  • 3. Shir Dor madrassa - south wall - ks
  • 4. Shir Dor -patroon entrance - gp
  • 5. Shir Dor minaret - ks
  • 6. Shir Dor - minaret (2) - mu
  • 7. Shir Dor spandrel

11.1.

–

11.2.

–

11.3.

–

11.4.

–

11.5.

–

11.6.

–

11.7.

–

12.

Samarkand - Shah-i-zinda

  • 1. Shah-i-zinda
  • 2. Shah-i-zinda Entrance Gate
  • 3. 18 Khodja Akhmad mausoleum
  • 4. 18 Khodjah Akhmad mausoleum - gp
  • 5. 19 Kutlug Aka mausoleum
  • 6. 16 Tuman Aqa mosque
  • 7. 17 Tuman Aqa mausoleum
  • 8. 10 Shadi Mulk Aka
  • 9. 12 Alim Nasafi Mausoleum
  • 10. 12 Alim Nasafi mausoleum (2)
  • 11. 9 Shirin Bika mausoleum
  • 12. 9 Shirin Bika mausoleum - interieur
  • 13. 8 Amir Zade mausoleum
  • 14. 8 Amir Zade mausoleum
  • 15. 7 Amir Hussein mausoleum
  • 16. 5 Qazi Zadeh Rumi
  • 17. 18 Khodjah Akhmad mausoleum - pattern

12.1.

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12.2.

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12.3.

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12.4.

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12.5.

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12.6.

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12.7.

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12.8.

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12.9.

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12.10.

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12.11.

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12.12.

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12.13.

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12.14.

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12.15.

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12.16.

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12.17.

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13.

Samarkand - Bibi Khanum moskee

  • 1. Bibi Khanum mosque (1399-1405)
  • 2. Bibi Khanum mosque - spandrel - gp
  • 3. Bibi Khanum mosque vault
  • 4. Bibi Khanum mosque - weave pattern side wall - ks
  • 5. Bibi Khanum mosque - cross pattern - ks
  • 6. Bibi Khanum mosque - S-wheel pattern - ks
  • 7. Bibi Khanum moskee - square pattern- ks
  • 8. Bibi Khanun mosque - gear pattern - ks
  • 9. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - minarets - ks
  • 10. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - panel 1 - ks
  • 11. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - panel 2 - ks
  • 12. Bibi Khanum entrance gate - verticale stroken - ks
  • 13. Bibi Khanun entrance gate inside wall - ks

13.1.

–

13.2.

–

13.3.

–

13.4.

–

13.5.

–

13.6.

–

13.7.

–

13.8.

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13.9.

–

13.10.

–

13.11.

–

13.12.

–

13.13.

–

14.

Samarkand Gur Emir

  • 1. Gur Emir complex - mu
  • 2. Gur Emir mausoleum - mu
  • 3. Gur Emir minarets - ks
  • 4. Gur Emir wall pattern - ks
  • 5. interior - domes - mu
  • 6. interior - wal panels - gp
  • 7. interior - squares with kufic writing
  • 8. exterior small panels

14.1.

–

14.2.

–

14.3.

–

14.4.

–

14.5.

–

14.6.

–

14.7.

–

14.8.

–

15.

Tashkent

  • 1. Kukeldash madrassa - gp and ks
  • 2. Kukeldash madrassa (2) - gp

15.1.

–

15.2.

–

Information