Aq Saray Palace

File / Documentation

Name

144026_sv.jpg

Size

2.2 MB

Format

JPEG

Checksum (MD5)

41884f332d8977a824206e22751baeac

Creator(s)

Uzbek, Islamic

Time period

creation date: 1379-1396, restoration date: 1997

Location

Site: Shakhrisabz (Uzbekistan)

Cultural context

Uzbek

Islamic

Description

A partially ruined monumental iwan from Aq Saray Palace is all that has survived from the legendary palaces of Timur (reg. 1370–1405) in central Asia. Located in the northeastern part of Shahrisabz (lit. "Green City"), now in Uzbekistan, the construction of Aq Saray (lit. "White Palace") was ordered by Timur in 1380 after a victorious battle with Urgench...The excavations on the site have not been adequate enough to reveal the plan of the complex; it is not clear where the remaining iwan was located in relation to other parts of the palace...The standing iwan is one of the largest built in the Islamic era surviving to date. Although it spans 22 meters and is 30 meters tall, it is estimated that the original vault was as tall as 50 meters. Facing north toward Samarqand, the remaining structure consists of two consecutive rectangular spaces with collapsed vaults. The larger iwan is framed by a portal screen and is flanked by two truncated cylindrical towers. (Historical sources suggest the original height of the towers to have been 60 to 70 meters.) The second narrower iwan, 13 meters in width, was closed by an arched wall.
Source: Archnet

exterior, decoration, 1987

Work type

Palace

Medium

brick

Keywords

Architecture, Islamic--Asia, Central