Gur-e-Amir
Mausoleum - Samarkand
- 2013
It is the mausoleum of Timur (Tamerlane), the conquerer of West, South and Central Asia
and founder of the Timurid dynasty.
Gur - e - Amir means "tomb of the king".
Timur's sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah, and grandsons Ulugh Beg
and Muhammad Sultan, are also buried in tombs here.
The construction of the mausoleum itself began in 1403 after the sudden death of Muhammad Sultan,
Tamerlane's heir apparent and his beloved grandson, for whom it was intended.
Timur had built himself a smaller tomb in Shahrisabz near his Ak-Saray palace.
However, when Timur died in 1405 on campaign on his military expedition to China,
the passes to Shahrisabz were snowed in, so he was buried here instead.
Ulugh Beg, another grandson of Tamerlane, completed the work.
During his reign the mausoleum became the family crypt of the Timurid Dynasty.
The dark-green tombstone is Timur's. It was once a single block of jade, but it is now cracked.
In 1740, Nadir Shah tried to carry off Tamerlanes sarcophagus but it broke in two.
Nader idolized Timur, the most successful conqueror from Central Asia.
He imitated his military prowess and especially later in his reign cruelty,
This was interpreted as a bad omen. His advisers urged him to leave the stone to its rightful place.
The tomb of Sayyid Baraka, Timur's teacher, is behind Timur's tomb.
Timur wanted to be buried at the feet of his favourite advisor.
The magnificently tiled ribbed-dome.
The decorative tiles of the interior of the mausoleum are stunning.
Some parts have been left un-restored.
Next ... Bibi - Khanym Mosque at Samarkand ...
It is the mausoleum of Timur (Tamerlane), the conquerer of West, South and Central Asia
and founder of the Timurid dynasty.
Gur - e - Amir means "tomb of the king".
Timur's sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah, and grandsons Ulugh Beg
and Muhammad Sultan, are also buried in tombs here.
The construction of the mausoleum itself began in 1403 after the sudden death of Muhammad Sultan,
Tamerlane's heir apparent and his beloved grandson, for whom it was intended.
Timur had built himself a smaller tomb in Shahrisabz near his Ak-Saray palace.
However, when Timur died in 1405 on campaign on his military expedition to China,
the passes to Shahrisabz were snowed in, so he was buried here instead.
Ulugh Beg, another grandson of Tamerlane, completed the work.
During his reign the mausoleum became the family crypt of the Timurid Dynasty.
The dark-green tombstone is Timur's. It was once a single block of jade, but it is now cracked.
In 1740, Nadir Shah tried to carry off Tamerlanes sarcophagus but it broke in two.
Nader idolized Timur, the most successful conqueror from Central Asia.
He imitated his military prowess and especially later in his reign cruelty,
This was interpreted as a bad omen. His advisers urged him to leave the stone to its rightful place.
The tomb of Sayyid Baraka, Timur's teacher, is behind Timur's tomb.
Timur wanted to be buried at the feet of his favourite advisor.
The magnificently tiled ribbed-dome.
The decorative tiles of the interior of the mausoleum are stunning.
Some parts have been left un-restored.
Next ... Bibi - Khanym Mosque at Samarkand ...