South Palace
unknown (Afghan)
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Description
The Southern Palace is located about two-hundred and fifty meters to the southwest of the Central Palace. Its construction was initiated by Mahmud of Ghazni (reg. 998-1030) and completed under his successor, Mas'ud I (reg. 1031-1040) in 1036. It is the largest palace of Lashkari Bazar, measuring over one-hundred and sixty-five (north-south) by ninety-five (east-west) meters at its largest. Built as a rectangular courtyard structure, the palace was enlarged during the Ghurid period to include irregular segments to the west or north, pushing its walls out to the banks of a bend in the Helmand River. Built of adobe reinforced with timber on a foundation of baked brick or stone, the crumbling walls of the palace retain segments of carved and painted stucco decoration from the Ghurid period.
The main, southern elevation of the palace is spanned by a two tiers of blind archways, which were once paneled with floral and geometric stucco reliefs and highlighted with inscriptive medallions. Centered among the archways, the portal retains the beginning and end of a large Kufic band commemorating the Ghurid restoration, including the partially legible date date of 55 (?) A.H. (between 1155 and 1163). The portal opens into a cruciform entry hall that gives access to rooms on either side and opens into the palace court to the north. The courtyard is fifty meters wide and sixty-three meters long and has four axial iwans. Its east and west flanks are planned symmetrically with a series of eight archways leading into six rooms and corridors (or stair halls) located at the corners. The eastern iwan opens into the walled palace gardens. Beyond the western iwan is the Ghurid extension, which contains the harem quarters and the palace baths, served by running water. The southern flank of the courtyard is occupied by six identical rooms flanking the small southern iwan. To the north, the grand iwan is flanked by two large, rectangular halls. The courtyard walls are animated with molded pilasters, colonettes and blind archways similar to the southern elevation.
The northern wing of the palace contains four apartments -- two on either side of the grand iwan and its flanking halls and two others behind the iwan, separated by the Audience Hall. The administrative function is served by the Audience Hall (Throne Room), which is accessed from the northern iwan through a square vestibule and from the two apartments adjoining it. Its rectangular core is enveloped by an ambulatory on three sides, including a wider antechamber to the south that served as a mosque. To the north, the audience hall opened onto the river ridge with a portico, with views of the plains beyond. A rose-petalled water-basin, fed by a canal running east-west, marked the center of the room. The lower portion of the walls were painted with murals; a surviving fragments depicting Ghaznavid guardsmen on a background of flowers, fruit trees, birds and gazelle is displayed at the Kabul Museum. Carved bands and panels of brick and terracotta adorned the upper sections of the walls. Fragments of a grand panel found in the room contain Quranic verses from the Naml Sura (XXVII) describing Queen Sheba's visit to King Solomon. general view, excavated audience hall (throne room) basin with channels
Type of Work
PalaceSubject
Palaces, Courtyards, Ruined cities, Complexes, Architecture, Domestic, Islamic cities and towns, Architecture, Islamic --Afghanistan
Rights Statement
All rights reserved
Item is Part of
130789