Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.9
By Vugar Imanov - Trend Life:
Trend Life continues to acquaint its readers with poorly known ancient architectural monuments of Azerbaijan.
This time we headed to one of the blessed places of Azerbaijan - Gabala, which is located 215 kilometers west of Baku at the foot of the Great Caucasus.
There is a Sufi mausoleums complex of the XV-XVI centuries in Hezre village of Gabala district - the tombs of Sheikh Badraddin and Sheikh Mansur of the XV century, as well as Sheikh Mohammed of the XVI century. Another tomb of unknown Sufi dates back to the XVI century.
The complex is located in a dense forest. Historians attribute these structures to Shirvan-Absheron architectural school. The tombs have an octagon shape and are made of white stone.
There is an inscription at the entrance to the mausoleum of Sheikh Badraddin: "The tomb of Sheikh Rabbani Sheikh Badraddin, the son of Sheikh Shamsaddin, who died in 850 Hijri year (in 1446 by the Gregorian calendar)." The dome reads: "This is a sacred tomb of Sheikh Badraddin, the son of Sheikh Shamsaddin, who obeyed Allah. May their souls rest in peace! (son and father - Ed.). He died on the 13th of Dhul-Qadah month in 850. Written by Sheikh Sultan."
The tomb of Sheikh Mansour also has the shape of an octagon, but the interior walls are quadrangular. There is an inscription from the Holy Quran on the mausoleum: "Do not think that those who lost their lives on Allah's way, are dead. They get reward from Allah." It is followed by the words: "This tomb of gracious Sheikh Mansur was built during the reign of the great and mighty Sultan Sheikh Ibrahim. May the Almighty grant eternity to his rule. May Allah illuminate this tomb!"
The date of death is not specified. But, according to historical documents, Shirvanshah Sheikh Ibrahim I ruled in 1382-1417. Therefore, the tomb was built in the late XIV - early XV centuries.
The tomb of Sheikh Mohammed reads: "This honorable mausoleum was erected in honor of the enlightened Sheikh Mohammed, the son of Sheikh Barik, at the place of his glorious burial during the reign of Sultan Abdulmuzaffar Shah Tahmasib in 970 (1562-1563 by the Gregorian calendar)."
Many other tombs of stone with Arabic inscriptions and calligraphy of XII-XIII centuries, located around the complex, also attract attention.
