Shah-i-zinda

The Shah-i-zindah (“the Living King”) is a necropolis in the nord of Samarkand, developed around the shrine of Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the prophet Muhammad of whom is told that he was decaptivates near to the walls of Samarkand during the 7th century Arab conquests.[br]According to the legend he took is head into his hands and descended into a well, in which he's living eternally in an underground palace as the 'Living King'.[br]After the plunder of the city early 13th century the site started growing into a necropolis. Most monuments were built between 1370 and 1405, mostly for women of the Timurid dynasty. Ulug Beg, the grandson of Timur defined the borders of the complex building a monumental entrance gate in 1434-35 ceremonical entrance. [br]Now youcan visit the Shah-i-zinda as a street of 200 m between mausolea, grouped in three clusters climbing upwards the hill. As a visiter you are walking from south to north against time while the different momuments were examples for each other. For this reason I comment the monuments in reverse order, following their building history.

Information: Shah-i-zinda