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VOBKENT MINARET

This is a very important monument for studying the genesis and development of the Central Asia’s minarets. The Minaret mirrors the stage when ornaments with masonry of baked bricks is supplemented and later replaced by glazed tiles. Its breathtaking height of luxury and architectural decoration were purely ideological purpose - to symbolize the power of rulers. Its location in the ancient Vobkent, major center of Silk Roads on a caravan route, makes it particularly exceptional with two functions: calling for prayers and as a lighthouse for travelling caravans.

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Vobkent Minaret

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The minaret represents columnar shaped tower. The height of the minaret from the bottom of the socle up to the top of the basic column is equal to 40,3 m. The height of 12-cut socle is 2,3 m. Diameter of the basis of the trunk is 6,19 m. Diameter of the top of a trunk (under the lantern) is 2,81 m, diameter of the lantern 3,66 m, diameter of the basic column is 1,05 m. The trunk of the minaret has an entasis.

The minaret in Vobkent (1196-1197), is similar to the minaret of Kalyan in Bukhara and differs from it with decoration. The zones and edges are sharply dismembered. Here zones of type «maudj» are clearly readable. All of the laying like «maudj» - from pair bricks flat wise, with vertical inserts of the unique paintings. First three strips from below are divided only smooth hem from brick into the edge. Then wide foreparts alternate with narrow paths. The fourth strip contains the historical inscription from which it was established that the minaret is constructed in 593. (1196-1197).

The name of the builder is completely specified in the bottom fillet of the inscription. It says: minaret has constructed by the son of Sadr Burhaniddin Muhammad Bukhara Sadr Burkhaniddin Abdalaziz II, son of Sadr Hasanaddin Omar, the son of the founder of Sadr dynasty. The fifth path represents the abstract stylization «under kufi», the sixth - decorative lattice, the seventh - the prayerful formula, three followings - again lattice. Under the lantern eight-final rectangular stars with inserts from glazed brick, accented from below by the band of pattern «under kufi» are arranged. The third relief inscription from the plates with the handwriting inscription «divoni» is above it. It contains the date of the complement of construction 1198-1199. On the socle, on the parapets and above are continuous laying and groove of openwork painting.