Ajami Nakhchivani: Difference between revisions

| image = Stamps[[File:Əcəmi of Azerbaijan, 2016-1247Naxçıvani.jpg|thumb| Memar Əcəmi Naxçıvani]]

| caption = [[Azerbaijan]]i stamp dedicated to Ajami

| language = Azerbaijani

| nationality = Azerbaijani

'''Ajami ibn Abubakr Nakhchivani''' was a 12th and 13th-century Muslim architect who contributed greatly to the architecture of [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhchivan]]. He was the founder of the [[Nakhchivan schoolSchool of architecture]] and is the architect of buildings such as [[Yusif ibn Kuseyir Mausoleum]], [[Momine Khatun Mausoleum]] and [[Juma Mosque, Nakhchivan|Juma Mosque]].

One of the ancient monuments created by Ajami is the mausoleum of Yusif ibn Kuseyir, known as "Atababa". The [[Āyah|ayahs]] (verses) from [[Koran]] are inscribed on the walls of the monument. DateThe date of construction of this mausoleum (1161-1162 AD) was defined from its traditional built-in plate or ''katiba''. This eight-sided mausoleum consists of the underground [[plinth]] burial place (sardaba, {{lang-fa|سردابه}} or cellar) and its on-ground top. Each side of this construction is decorated with various ornaments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1173/ |title=The mausoleum of Nakhichevan |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=whc.unesco.org |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

The masterpiece of Ajami is the [[Momine Khatun Mausoleum|Momina-Khatun's mausoleum]], also known as the Atabey's Cupola - Atabei Gumbazi. The mausoleum is constructed in honour of Momine Khatun who was the wife of either [[Atabegs of Azerbaijan#Shams ad-Din Ildeniz (Eldeniz)|Atabag Shamsaddin Eldegiz]] himself, or that of his son [[Atabegs of Azerbaijan#Muhammad Jahan Pahlavan|Jahan Pahlavan]]. The date, indicated on the walls, tells us that this ten-sided monument was constructed in 1186-1187 AD. The surface of each side is completely covered by the ornaments. InEven spite of the fact thatthough the upper parts of this structure have some destruction, its height today is more than 25 meters. Here also exists an underground vault and a burial place or sardaba.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unesco.preslib.az/en/page/wC1I6Gk9sD |title=Momine Khatun Mausoleum |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=unesco.preslib.az |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}}</ref>

One of those creations of Ajami, which partially survived up to the present day, is an architectural ensemble near the Momina Khatun Mausoleum. The main building had been destroyed some time ago, and only two [[minaret]]s and a portal connecting them have remained. This portal was constructed in 1187 AD. In the opinion of researchers, this composition of two minarets and a portal was originally planned and designed by Ajami.

The Khanaqah mausoleum in Nakhchivan strongly differs from what we already have described. While the Momina Khatun Mausoleum and other similar monuments are structures of a tower type, the Khanagah mausoleum is a structure of the mixed type: its lower part has thea cubic form and the upper part is eight-sided. Ornaments show that the mausoleum was made in 12-13th centuries.