Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Samarkand

Ulugh Beg Madrasa

Ulugh Beg Madrasa
Basic information
Location Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Affiliation Islam
Architectural description
Architectural style Azeri
Specifications
Minaret(s) 3

The Ulugbek Madrasa in Samarkand is a religious educational institution in Uzbekistan. It was built by Ulugh Beg during the Timurid dynasty at the Registan in the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand.

Appearance of the madrasa

The madrasa was built from 1417 to 1422. Some buildings at the Registan are very close to it in the west. This right angular madrasa has two floors of 56x81 meters. The facade is directed towards the main square, and the structure can be widely seen with its height of 16.5 m. Next to it there are gardens with various types of flowers and trees. The arch is 32 meters in height.

The building is crowned by an azure fluted dome. The exterior decoration of the walls consists of blue, light-blue and white tiles organized into geometrical and epigraphic ornaments against a background of terracotta bricks. All the patterns are designed in the Greek style. The dome has a bright blue color with deep rosettes and white spots. With the help of historical stained windows the room is illuminated during daytime.

Design of the madrasa

Frontal view of entrance hall

In every section are halls, living-rooms and extra rooms. All four corners of the madrasa are covered with studying and lesson-preparing rooms.

Hidden tombs are located as a large, high cavities with deep places at the sides and unusual decoration. Almost all parts of the walls are covered with many geometric ornaments and done by burnt brick to make the building more attractive. As a result, no one can see the tombs at the first looking. Each of these these tombs is decorated with paintings.

Behind the building is the mausoleum “Chorsu Hovli” (30x30 m). Around this are 48 double-store sections. The ornate carved headstones in the inner room of the mausoleum merely indicate the location of the actual tombs in a crypt directly underneath the main chamber.

In the east a big and wide building is placed. It is a mosque constructed for Ulugh Beg. All of its ornaments are special because of their historical handwriting.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ulugbek madrasah.

Sources

External links

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