Aksaray mausoleum

Oqsaroy — a architectural monument in Samarkand (15th century). The last tomb of the Timurid dynasty. As an additional tomb it was built during the reigns of Abu Said (1449–69) and Sultan Ahmad Mirzo (1469–94). The mausoleum is carved from a mixture of baked brick and plaster. Oqsaroy consists of a large central hall and oppositely placed rooms. The main axis faces south. Under the central mihrab a cistern is located. In the construction of Oqsaroy, complex methods characteristic of the architecture of that period were used: the large hall dome is covered with four large ribs and intersecting riblets as well as arches. These structures are decorated with stucco and plaster ornaments. Most of the decorations are executed in the Kunday style. Delicately worked white and blue colors harmonize with gold thread to create a wonderful appearance. The pattern shapes are not repeated. In one rib there are 67 different decorative motifs that do not resemble each other. The external architecture of the building was not completed. The large hall’s external dome and the eight‑sided cupola are unfinished. Oqsaroy is considered a unique example of Timurid architecture.

History

There are no historical sources about the exact construction date and purpose of the Oqsaroy mausoleum. Soviet archaeologist and Orientalist historian M.E. Masson assumes that the construction of the mausoleum is related to the killing of the Transoxiana ruler Abdulatif, and because the tomb of his father Mirzo Ulug‘bek is located there, it is presumed that he could not be buried in the Goriamir mausoleum. At the same time, the architectural features and interior decorations of the mausoleum resemble those of the Ishratkhona mausoleum, which allows it to be dated to the 70s of the 15th century. There is also a view that the mausoleum may have served as a family tomb for the male descendants of the Sultan Abu Said family.

By the 20th century, the monument had become seriously damaged. In 1924–1925 reconstruction work was carried out on the structure, which saved this tomb from collapse. It remained in a ruined state until the early 21st century. In 2007 the Oqsaroy tomb was restored with private funds and is now open to tourists.

Architecture

The Oqsaroy tomb is a single-domed, rectangular building that includes a main hall and three entrance rooms. The upper part of the main hall is covered with a dome on a cylindrical drum, whose base is formed by intersecting ribs and shield-like sails. A narrow stair‑like passage covered with marble leads to an octagonal hall. The building has no external ornamentation, but its interior decoration differs sharply from its exterior appearance. Inside, there is a mosaic panel at the base of the walls. The walls are covered with decorative paintings made with extensive use of jewelry items.