Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Bibi-Khanym Mosque ( _fa. مسجد بی بی خانم) is a famous historical mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, whose name comes from the wife of 14th-century warlord, Timur.cite web |url= http://www.igougo.com/travelcontent/JournalEntryActivity.aspx?Mode=2&BusinessCardID=99863|title= Bibi Khanym Mosque Reviews|accessdate=2007-04-06 |date= October 11, 2000|publisher= IGoUGo.com]

After his Indian campaigncite web |url= http://www.skiouros.net/voyages/2000/uz/uz2000_103.en.html|title= Bibi-Khanym mosque|accessdate=2007-04-06 |publisher= Skiouros.net] in 1399 Timur decided to undertake the construction of a gigantic mosque in his new capital, Samarkand. The outer walls ( [http://www.pagetour.narod.ru/samarkand/Bibi-Khonym/Bibi-Khonym_1.htm see picture] ) are 167 metres (182.63 yards) in length and 109 metres (119.20 yards) in width. The cupola of the main chamber reaches a height of 40 metres [Muzey.uz, [http://muzey.uz/muzei/action/view/id/49 Соборная мечеть Биби-Ханым] (Bibi-Khanym Mosque) ru icon] , and the entranceway is 35 metres high.cite web |url= http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976758081|title= In Pictures: Samarkand, Uzbekistan|accessdate=2007-04-06 |last= Carillet|first= Joel|date= June 6, 2006|publisher= Gather.com] There is a large marble Qur'an stand in the centre of the courtyard.cite web |url= http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/00-09/uzbekistan-2000-samarkand.html|title= Uzbekistan 2000 - Samarkand|accessdate=2007-04-06 |last= Burnett|first= Doug|date= September 7, 2000|publisher= BootsnAll.com]

History

The mosque was built immediately after Timur's return in 1399 from his campaign in India using precious stones captured during his conquest of India. According to Ruy Gonzáles de Clavijo, 90 captured elephants were employed merely to carry precious stones, so as to erect a mosque at Samarkand — Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Construction was completed between 1399 and 1404. However, the mosque slowly fell into disuse, and crumbled to ruins over the centuries. Its demise was hastened due to the fact it pushed the construction techniques of the time to the very limitcite web |url= http://www.stantours.com/uz_rg_sk_sc.html#bibi|title= Samarkand City|accessdate=2007-04-06 |date= April 24, 2002|publisher= Stantours.com] , and the fact that it was built too quickly.cite web |url=. http://www.steppestravel.co.uk/download/Highlights%20of%20CA%20-%2017%20days%20-%20Uzbek,%20Kyrghyz,%20Kazakh%2020.pdf|title= Highlights of CA|accessdate=2007-04-06 |date= March 22, 2006|publisher= Steppes Travel|format=PDF] It eventually partially collapsed in 1897 when an earthquake occurred.cite web |url= http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298068-d317888-Reviews-Bibi_Khanym_Mosque-Samarkand.html|title= Bibi Khanym Mosque|accessdate=2007-04-06 |publisher= TripAdvisor.com]

However, in 1974 it began to undergo reconstructioncite web |url= http://community.iexplore.com/planning/journalEntryActivity.asp?JournalID=6651&EntryID=12113&n=Bibi+Khanym+Mosque+|title= Bibi Khanym Mosque|accessdate=2007-04-06 |date= July 14, 2001|publisher= iExplore.com] ( [http://www.pagetour.narod.ru/samarkand/Bibi-Khonym/Bibi-Khonym_4.htm see picture] ) by the Government of Uzbekistan, although the current mosque is effectively a brand-new building, as no original work remains. The bazaar at the foot of the Bibi-Khanym ( [http://www.pagetour.narod.ru/samarkand/Bibi-Khonym/Bibi-Khonym_6.htm see picture] ) has changed little since 600 years ago.

See also

*Gur-e Amir
*Shah-i-Zinda
*Registan
*Tourism in Uzbekistan

References

External links

* [http://www.pagetour.narod.ru/samarkand/Bibi-Khonym.htm Bibi-Khanym Mosque photos and information]
* [http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/central-asia/uzbekistan/samarkand/bibi-khanym-mosque/sphere-quicktime.html 360° view of the Mosque]
* [http://www.pagetour.narod.ru/samarkand/mappn.htm Location of the Mosque]
* [http://www.kufic.info/architecture/bibikhanum/bibikhanum.htm Square Kufic on the Bibi Khanum Mosque]