Samanid Mausoleum

Somoniylar maqbarasi

The early 10th-century mausoleum of the Samanid dynasty, the oldest surviving Islamic building in Central Asia. Built entirely of fired brick arranged into varied patterns, it is a pinnacle of brickwork art.

The Samanid Mausoleum was built between 892 and 943 CE as the tomb of Ismail Samani, founder of the Samanid dynasty, and his family. It is one of the oldest surviving Islamic buildings in Central Asia. It is a cube about 10 metres on each side, topped by a hemispherical dome, with small domes at the four corners. Not a single tile was used. Instead, fired yellow bricks are laid at different angles to form basketweave, ring, and diamond patterns that appear to shift in three dimensions as the light changes through the day. It is the origin of Islamic brickwork, and its design also draws on the architecture of Zoroastrian fire temples, with doors on all four sides and corner pillars. Because it was buried under sand before the Mongol invasion, it escaped destruction by Genghis Khan. It was not excavated until 1934, when Soviet archaeologists dug it out from under about 2 metres of soil. Admission costs about 15,000 sum (about CNY 10), and it is open 08:00–19:00. The mausoleum is in Samani Park on the west side of the old town, about a 10-minute walk from the Ark. The park also contains the Chashma Ayub Mausoleum (“Job's Spring”, where legend says the prophet Job struck the ground with his staff and brought forth a spring, and which houses a small water museum) and a small market. Plan 30 minutes. It is best visited early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as direct midday light flattens the brick patterns. The park also has local amusement rides and a Ferris wheel, which get lively in the evening.

Samanid Mausoleum

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