The Treasures of Ulugbek

Ulugbek, a name often referred to bytour guides, stirs up a keen interest wth those travelling along Great Silk Road.

Mukhammad Taragai, the grandson of the great Amir Temur, was called Ulugbek, meaning "the great khan" since his youth. He began hid rule in Samarkand in 1409 where he governed for 40 years. This period of exceptional leadership of the "scientist on the throne" was marked by great progress in science and culture. Mathematicians, theologians, physicians and astronomers alike were honored and recognised during this glorious time.

A celebrated astronomer himself, Mirzo Ulugbek emphasise the establishment of cultural, charitable and educational institutions, the three most important religious educational schools and institutions were built by his order. These are the madrassahs in the cities of Bukhara, Samarkand and Gijduvan where boys from wealthy families were admitted and educated from 10 to 20 years. The main subject was the Koran, studying the Holy Book was compulsory while other subjects were optional.

"The desire for knowledge is the duty of each Muslim man and woman" this was the motto during Ulugbek's reign. These words are carved on the door of the Ulugbek madrassah in Bukhara.

It was not by chance that in 1417 Ulugbek built his first madrassah in the capital of the medieval Islamic world. The tough clergy who were firmly settled in Bukhara at the time were not happy with the philosopher-scientist and his ideas. Fully aware of their power, Ulugbek was carved on the same door: "Let the door of God's happiness be opened to the circle of people, over and above the wisdom of books".

While visiting Bukhara, Ulugbek liked to stay in madrassah and personally reward the most diligent teachers and students.

The Ulugbek madrassah in Bukhara is not large in size, but it has unusual shapes. The square courtyard with two balconies (aivan) is surrounded by two-storeyed hujras (small rooms for student accommodation), the classroom and mosque are decorated with doms. The ornamentation is done with glazed bricks and bright majolika tiles with strict proportions.

The name of the architect inscribed on the portal is Ismail ibn Takhir ibn Makhmud Isfarghoni. He was probably a grandson of an Iranian craftsman captured by Tamerlane who also left his name on the portal of the Gur-Emir complex in Samarkand.

According to an eastern saying, the Ulugbek madrassah in Samarkand is so heavy that "the backbone of the trembles". It was in 1417-1420 that the ruler built the most beautiful of all constructions. The enormous walls and towers of the Ulugbek madrassah rise above all the architectural wonders of the whole of Central Asia.

The madrassah is square, two stored, with four aivans, classrooms and an outdoor terrace for classes in the summer. Four high domes and four tall minarets on the corners complete the construction. Each of the 48 hujras is divided into two, thus making room for two students in each room. The first floor of the room id for studying while the second the second floor is for rest. The hujras were lit with oil lamps.

According to research, Ulugbek himself helped with the construction and later lactured at the same madrassah. Salakhuddin-Musa-ibn-Makhmud Kazy-zade Rumi was one of the first teachers at the madrassah. His contemporaries called him "Aflotuni zamon", i.e. "The Platon of his period". As the head mudarris of the Ulugbek Madrassah, the center of eastern science, Kazy-zade Rumi was also considered to be the head of all Samarkand scientists.

More than 100 students studied at the madrassah. By the 16th century, there were 10 such madrassah.

There architect of these magnificent building is unknown. This construction yields to none of Timur's constructions in terms of artistic finish and durability. The three main colors used in the decors are white, dark blue, and light blue, characteristic of Samarkand craftsman. The use of the colors is the ornamentation is the evidence that craftsman from other regions also took part in its construction.

The main facade of the Madrassah facing the Registan square, is famous for its magnificent portal. Its ornamentation of glazed breaks carved mosaic and majolica tiles in part brightness and festivity to both the outer and inner courtyard facades. This building make the pick of artistic perfection. The combination of the geometric and botanic patterns along with these calligraphic descriptions create magnificent decoration for this enormous structure.

The Ulugbek Madrassah's ornamentation includes the so-called "star girikhs" (geometric pattern of stars), which is symbolic of the astronomer's rule.

The beauty of the amazing mosaic adorning the Ulugbek Madrassah attracts many admirers from far and wide.

The third Ulugbek madrassah is located in the small town of Gijduvan, on the way from Bukhara to Samarkand. It was built in 1432-1433. A tall minaret with a stork's nest on top is the landmark.

Gijduvan was one of the stops on the Great Silk Road. Today this town is mostly known as a birthplace of the well-known sufi Abdulkhalik Gijduvani, the founder of the Khodjagon order. A marble plaque is installed above Gijduvan's tomb in front of the madrassah. The small square between the Gijduvan tomb and the Ulugbek madrassah is now used as a courtyard for prayer.

This madrassah was used more as khanaka, a center for dervishes with rooms for accommodation and halls for ceremonies rather than a higher ecclesiastical institution. The design of the building is somewhat different in comparison to that of the other madrassahs: the public halls are located at the entrance, the courtyard with the two terraces is surrounded by the living quarter (hujras). The halls are rectangular, characteristic for the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

The madrassahs built by Ulugbek in Bukhara, Samarkand and Gijduvan have proved to be the most durable of all his constructions.

All Tourist Gems of Uzbekistan