Geok-Gumbez - three mausolea from the Timurid period

Geok-Gumbez is a deserted place 70 km to the north of Merv where 3 medieval mausolea (XIII-XIV cc.) are situated. They look to the west in rows and represent a whole. Three mausolea in the Geok-Gumbez represent the traditional type of one-chambered portal-and-dome shrine of the Northern Khorasan architectural school. Here it is possible to see the process of a new architectural type formation when the centric tomb (XI-XII cc.) gave place to the portal-and-dome mausoleum with emphasized significance of monumental peshtak. First time in 1951, the YuTAKE investigated these monuments. In historical writing sources, the Geok-Gumbez is mentioned just in the XV century in the connection with the events of fight between Mirza-Sanjar and Timurid ruler Khusein ibn Mansur ibn Baikara in 1456. Geok-Gumbez means Blue Dome. It took its name from its blue glazed dome but they could not survive to our days.

The first and the largest of them has on the main facade a peshtak with a lancet arch; the other facades are formed by narrow wall niches. Dome is based on the bay squinches. Outside, the dome was faced with the blue glazed bricks fallen down later. It reflects keeping local traditional methods in the architecture of XIII-XIV cc. and, at the same time, emergence of new architectural forms. Some constructional details typical for Merv architecture, for example, method of the trompe construction connect it with the foregoing period. The innovation is a strongly developed peshtak, which not simply protrudes on main facade but represents the principal and sole facade form. The second mausoleum has kept only a part of its walls and the portal analogical to the previous one; the third mausoleum has preserved a small peshtak added to the cube-shaped bulk and a burial vault.

The mausolea will fascinate you with their incredible architecture. It is not known by whom and for whom these monuments were built, but they certainly gave us the opportunity to see them.