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Baku

Shamakhi is an ancient city of Azerbaijan founded in the V century BC. In XI-XVI centuries it was a capital of the kingdom of Shirvan and a residence of Shirvanshahs. Shamakhi was one of the most beautiful cities in the East. From the middle of XVIII century it was the centre of Shemakhan Khanate (if you remember Pushkin’s the Queen of Shemakha)

Distance from Baku 135 kmPopulation 32,000 person.

Despite the numerous

earthquakes in Shemakha

there are many historical

monuments still preserved: first

the Juma mosque with two minarets (Construction date of the

mosque 743-744)

Considerable demolitions and damages of Friday Mosque during the battles and earthquakes were the reason of restorative reconstructions of the mosque’s building.

The fourth reconstruction was begun after the strongest earthquake in 1902, which was demolished and damaged a lot of buildings of Shamakhi

In 1918, Friday Mosque, which was not fully constructed, again was suffered from fire, the city was completely destroyed, and then-burned by armed units of Armenian nationalists

Last restoration 2010-2013

In its history eleven major earthquakes have rocked Shamakhi, but through multiple reconstructions it maintained its role as the economic and administrative capital of Shirvan and one of the key towns on the Silk Road. The only building to have survived eight of the eleven earthquakes is the landmark Juma Mosque

Women praying hall in mosque

MihrabCeiling

Mihrab  is the semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying

Mihrab details

Mihrab details

Muhemin turbah is a small piece of soil or clay, often a clay tablet, used during salat (Islamic daily prayers) to symbolize earth. The use of a turbah is compulsory in most Shi'ah schools of Islam and many Hadith mention the benefits of prostration (Sajda) upon the soil of the earth or an alternative material.

Mihrab details

Minbar details

Minbar details

the minbar is the raised platform from which an Imam (leader of prayer) addresses the congregation

the minbar

Minbar details

each design of the

rug may be occupied

by a worshipper

kneeling in prayer.

Rugs with a single

design of this kind

are usual in mosques

The 1191 earthquake was so destructive that the capital of Shirvan was transferred to Baku

Text: Internet

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu & Internet

Copyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Sami Yusuf - Hasbi Rabbi