🕌 Shah-i-Zinda
Uzbekistan
About This Sacred Site
Shah-i-Zinda (The Living King) is a stunning necropolis in Samarkand consisting of a series of elaborately tiled mausoleums along a narrow medieval street. The complex is associated with Qutham ibn Abbas, a cousin of Prophet Muhammad, who is said to have brought Islam to Central Asia and to still be living (hence 'Living King'). The mausoleums span eight centuries and display the evolution of Timurid and Central Asian tilework from the 11th to the 19th century, creating one of the most photogenic ensembles of Islamic art in the world.
Key Facts
- •Named after Qutham ibn Abbas, cousin of Prophet Muhammad
- •Legend says Qutham is still alive in a well beneath the complex
- •Mausoleums span from the 11th to 19th centuries
- •Features some of the finest tilework in Central Asia
- •Three visits here are said to equal a pilgrimage to Mecca
Location
Coordinates: 39.6625, 66.9875
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