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Samanid Mausoleum

Standing in a park just outside Bukhara's historic centre, the Samanid Mausoleum is one of the oldest funerary monuments in Central Asia. Small in size yet remarkably well proportioned, its brickwork rewards a slow look.

History

The Samanid Mausoleum was built in the 10th century as a dynastic tomb for the Samanids. They had become de facto independent of the Abbasid Caliphate, made Bukhara their capital and ruled parts of today's Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Kazakhstan. Bukhara was then a major centre of trade, science and the arts.

Scholars disagree on exactly when it was built. Some link it to Ismail Samani, some to his father Ahmad, and others to his grandson Nasr II, whose name appears on a Kufic-inscribed lintel found during 1930s restoration. Three male burials were found inside, and only one is tied to Nasr II.

The tomb is believed to have been buried by silt and mud for centuries, which may be why it escaped the Mongol sack of Bukhara. Soviet-era excavations and restoration in the 20th century brought it back into view. It is the only surviving monument of the Samanid era and forms part of Bukhara's UNESCO-listed historic centre.

What to see

The building is a small, slightly tapering cube about 9.4 metres on each side. Its four facades are identical, each with a pointed-arch entrance. Heavy corner half-columns give it a fortress-like base, while an arcaded gallery below the cornice lightens the top.

Everything is made of baked brick, laid in geometric and rhythmic patterns that seem to shift with the light during the day. A large central dome is flanked by four small ones at the corners. Inside, look at the squinches that carry the dome over the square room.

The mausoleum sits within a park created in the Soviet era, which still surrounds it, and a restored pond lies nearby.

Visiting tips

The mausoleum lies just outside the historic centre, so you can walk from the old town or take a short taxi ride. Entry arrangements and opening times can change, so check before you go.

The brickwork looks best in soft light, early in the morning or towards sunset. The building is small, so a visit is short; it fits easily into a day with Bukhara's other monuments, along with a stroll through the park.