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NAKHCHIVAN MONUMENTS
MOMINE KHATUN TOMB
MOMINE KHATUN TOMB - the huge monument of Azerbaijan national architecture, one of the Oriental pearls Mumine Khatun tomb was built (architect Ajami Nakhchivani son of Abubakr) in 1186 in the western part of Nakhchivan. The founder of the Azerbaijani state of Eldenizler, Shamsaddin Eldeniz decided to built tomb on the grave of his wife Mumine Khatun, and his son Muhammed Jahan Pahlavan finished the construction work in Muharrem (month) in hijri 582 (the beginning of Moslem era from the 16th of June 622, thats). The local people also call it Atabeyler monument. On the head of the monument, the following words are written: We are going, and only wind is left. We die, and only the work is kept.
The total height of the monument was 34 m, and then 8 m out of its surface cover was destroyed. The tomb consists of the surface and underground parts. The tomb part is of ten-pointed shape. According to some other researchers, the tombs of the Head of Atabeyler state- Shamsaddin Eldeniz, his wife Mumine Khatun and his son Muhammed Jahan Pahlavan are all together placed in he monument. The tombstones of those buried there were robbed away. The tomb is of original structure, and is rich in design. Arcs are made from the central column to each of the corners. The same structure of the tomb lately was used in gothic architecture in the West. The outside of the tomb is of ten-pointed shape (each point surrounded with inscriptions), but inside it is round. Inside the dome of the tomb, there four round medallions with the names of the caliphs. The corners of the Mumine Khatun tomb made of burnt brick are of protuberance form, and the surface of the tomb is worked out like hollow.
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YUSIF IBN KUSEYRS TOMB
YUSIF IBN KUSEYRS TOMB is one of the most ancient monuments in Nakhchivan. People call it also Atababa tomb. On the epitaph of the tomb, it was written that the tomb was built by the architect Ajami Nakhchivani son of Abubakr in 1162, and the name of the person who buried there is written on the stone as well. The ayahs (sentences) from Koran are written on the wall of the monument. The tomb consists of underground and eight-pointed surface. The underground is the tomb, and the surface is of monumental type like memorial monument. The ornaments are made of small bricks, and were fixed to the surfaces by means of cement substances.
Garabaghlar tomb
Garabaghlar tomb belongs to the middle Ages, and situated in the Garabaghlar village in Sharur region. The tomb is the monument. Besides Garabaghlar tomb there are also two minarets and building pieces among them. Both of the minarets are supposed to belong to late XII- early XIII centuries. And the arc connecting these minarets belongs to XIV century. The name of Head of the Elkhani state Hulaki khans wifes name Guti khatun is written in the tombstone.
Alinnja Fortress
Though there are a lot of fortresses situated along the Araz, the most famous among them is Alinja Fortress. Its active participation in important historic events, its unconquerability and impregnability were repeatedly mentioned in written sources and reminiscences of travelers.
Though, the Alinja Fortress rendered its service to various ruling dynasties of Azerbaijan and the Near Eastern region, it was more widely known as a residence and treasure-house of the Eldegyz I House; its security aroused the admiration of Tamerlane who was used to defeating the mightiest armies. During soviet era most of those historical heritages deliberately either destroyed or forgotten not to leave the future generation to know their history Today when you visit Alinja fortress you can see only few remaining parts of the fortress and special reservoirs and stepped tunnels for water supply.
Unlike these fortresses, the ones on the south bank of the Araz are not well- studied yet. One of them is Bazz Fortress which is located in southern Azerbaijan.
ASHABI KAHF( 7 Sleepers of the Cave )
ASHABI KAHF - means the cave people in Arabic, it is 12 km far away from Nakhchivan city, between Ilandagh ad Nahajir dagh. There is also the same name place in Small Asia or Palestine, and it was mentioned in ancient religious books, and Koran as well. According to legend in Kahf (Cave) surah, the youth who wanted to get rid of the prosecution enter the cave together with the dog. Allah made them sleeps, and then woke them up hundreds of years later. The legend spread in Nakhchivan has approximately the same sense. By the order and patronage of the President of Azerbaijan Republic Heydar Aliyev, the restoration work is held here, the condition is developed for pilgrims, and the mosques are built.