Культура и история
Devkesken
A great town of Devkesken or Deu-Kesken kala is situated about 60-70 km from Kounya-Urgench in the north-west and is the remains of a lively medieval town Vazir that stood once above the channels of Amudarya. The ruins of the town are situated on the steep and high stone plateau surrounded by the deep moat and walls. At the corner of the plateau the remains of a great castle has been found where one could trace the relief of the beautiful cylindrical facades that were typical to the architecture for the early medieval pre-Arabic period. Town of Vazir must have lost its significance in XVI century. On the territory of town there is a number of mausoleums of burned bricks and stone that dates back to the XV century. In the middle of XVI century Vazir was the residence of one of the Khoresmian khans named Sultan Ali. However successor of sultan had moved the khan’s residence to Urgench. It had happened in 1573 when bifurcation of waters of Amudarya had been observed and the river had directed a channel to Aral Sea. The ruins of the separate constructions have been discovered as well and among them one can see oviparous cupola of architectural ensemble of Seid-medrese typical to XIX c.
Izmukshir Fortress
The city of Zamakshar (Izmukshir), the ruins of which are situated 25 kilometers southwestward from Tashauz. The legendary greatness of Izmukshir fortress remained too few -half ruined adobe walls, which suggest its former monumentality. The total length of the wall is 1500 meters. The fortress is dated from III century B.C- III century A.D. But the real flourishing of Izmukshir should be dated from the Middle ages- from the epoch of appearance of new centralised states, which were governed by men of Turkmen origin. The most well known of those states were the Powers of Karkhanids, Gaznevids, Seldjuks, Khoresmshahs and others. Beginning with the IX century there starts reviving of public life, as in many other regions of the East. That was the time when Turkmen fortification architecture had experienced its flourishing -appearance of new fortresses as well as reviewing of the old ones using styles of building tradition of architecture of Turkmen tribes.
In front of Izmukshir kala there is a fortification moat (Turkmens call it "Gara Garymy" or "Gala Khendegi"). The moat of Turkmen fortresses amount to 1-16 meters in the depth, and in its width -2-15 meters.
Kune-Urgench
At the far end of Turkmenistan, 150 km to the northwest of Dashoguz, lies Koneurgench City (population 31.400). The outskirts of the city adjoin the territory of the State Historical -Cultural Museum - Reserve, covering nearly 640 hectares, and was founded in 1985. Here one can find several magnificent architectural memorials of the 13th - 14th c. These include one of the tallest minaret in Middle Asia, and various numbers of common buildings in medieval epoch: mausoleums, medressas and fortresses. There are all remnants of the ancient capital that gained prosperity thousands of year ago. It was the ancient capital of Khorezm, a historical region located near the mouth of Amu-Darya River, the first mentioned in the famous Behistun legend of Tsar Dary I (the 6th-5th c AD) and also in the "Avesta" - Zoroastrians' sacred book.
Kyrk Molla
The fortress Kyrk Molla is located in the north-eastern outskirts of Gur-Gench, and dates back to the X-XIV c.c.. It is directly to the north east of the monument of KHOREZM-shah Tekesh. The height of the fortress is 12 m.
Akk Gala
This fortress is located southwest of the ruins of Medieval Urgench. Their high walls, built with sun dried bricks, have survived to our days. Historical references indicate that the famous "Koshk-l-Ahchas", dating back to the X-XII c.c., was located here. The height of the walls of the fortress ranges from 6 to 8 metres.
Dashgala
Dashgala begins from the canal "Gushbegiyap" which runs to the south of the mausoleum ll'Arslan. It borders Ak Gala on the east and Khorezm Bagh on the west. Dashgala is surrounded by a moat. Inside the Dashgala, there are such monuments as Karavansaray in the south and the Minaret of Mamum in the north.
Mausoleum of Soltan Tekesh
The monument , known as Soltan Takesh, is located to the southeast of Kyrk Molla. Soltan Tekesh ruled between XII-XIII c.c., Although in the scientific literature this structure is known as the Mausoleum of Tekesh, in popular parlance called Gokgummez (Blue cupola) or the Mausoleum of Shyh Sherip Baba. The foundation of the monument is quadrangular in shape, and the 24-sided cupola is 18 meters high with a square base measuring 11.45X11.45 m.
II Arslan
II Arslan is a magnificent building, located between Dashgala and the Mausoleum of Tekesh. This magnificent structure is known among the people as Mausoleum of Kho-rezmshah II Arslan. The monument is also named after the famous Islamic scientist and philosopher Fahreddin Razi. II Arslan ruled from 1156 to 1172. According to the latest scientific theories, this building was used for storing water.
Monument of Torebeg Hanum
This monument, named after Torebeghanum, is located in the northern part of the ancient Gurgench. This monument con-sidered to be the most beautiful in Central Asia. Torebeg-haanym dates back to the end of the XIIc. - begining of the XIII c. Some historians doesn't consider it to be a mausoleum, but rather the palace of the Anushtegyns Dynasty. This structure, with a total area of 100 sq. m and high portal /25 m., is divided into three parts. It consists of a large central hall, a watchtower on the left and a staircase of 45 steps on the right.
Minaret of Gutlugh Temur/XI-XII c.c.
The minaret of Gutlugh Temur is located in the north west side of Khorezmshakh Tekesh. It is 64m high and considered to be the highest in Central Asia. The diameter of foundation is about 12 m., the diameter of the top is about 2 m. At a height of 7 m there is an entrance into the minaret .
Caravansaray/X-XII c.c.
The monument, known as Caravansaray, is located in the south of ancient Gurgench. According to historians , ancient Gurgench had had three gates: Akabilan, Nowur and AI-Kauz. Caravansaray is rectangular in shape and measures 34 m from north to east.
Nedjmeddin Kubra
The monument of Nedjimeddin Kubra is located in the western part of Kune Urgench. The monument is named after Ahmed ibn Omar Abuidjenap Nedjimeddin al Kubra al Khorezmi. He was born in Urgench in 1145-46, and became the founder of the Kubravid's school of Sophism. Nedjmeddin Kubra was famous not only as philosopher, but also as a painter, physician, chess master and talented general. Seven books and 24 rubais written by Kubra survived to this day. This monument is a perfect architectural construction. Its portal dates back to the XII-XIII c.c.. The monument was rebuilt during the era of prosperity of Khorezm, and again after the Mongol invasion.
Piryarweli
The mausoleum of Piryarweli is located to the west of Nedjmeddin Kubra.In this place a lot of famous people were buried,such as Shyh Setdar, Sheker Gendji, Daniyar Weli. Piryarweli was a contemporary of Nedjmeddin Kubra. Initially the monument was costructed in the XII-XIV c.c.. The height of its portal is 6.5 m and length is 7.5 m.
Ibn Hadjib
The monument of Ibn Hadjib, located in the western sector of ancient Gurgench, was built in honor of Ibn Hadjib, a talented descile of Nedjmeddin Kabra. This monument is actually a complex, different parts of which were constructed in different periods of time/ 14,18,19 c.c. This includes a burial chamber and premises for the visitors.
Mausoleum of Seyit Ahmet/XIV c.
The grave of Seyit Ahmet is located on the right side of the road to Minara. Seyit Ahmet was a famous contemporary of Nedjmeddin Kubra.
Soltan Ali
The mausoleum of Soltan Ali is located on the opposite side from the mausoleum of Nedjmeddin Kubra.This monument is linked to the name of Soltan Ali, who ruled Urgench in the 16 c. The monument is hexagonal in shape. The diameter of cupola is 9,5m.
Located along the famous Silk Road, Kune Urgench became an important link for the caravans, passing from the East, West and North , from the Volga river, Mongolia and China. This crossroad was a great contribution to the development of science and culture in Central Asia.
Shasenem Fortress / Shah-Senem kala
Shah-senem kala is situated close to the ancient canal Chermenyab, at the end of the medieval irrigated lands, about 90 km to the northwest of Tashauz. These are the ruins of a medieval town Suburny , which is mentioned by the great traveler Yakut who visited it before Mongol encroachment. The town represents irregular in plan hill rising up to 9 meters. The preserved outer walls of the hill reach 15 m. To the north-west of Shah-senem there was a parking complex with pavilions and central buildings constructed at the last period of existence of town (XII-XIII) . To this period belong numerous ruins of mansions, irrigation network, as well as big complex of workshops for making glass and glass products situated in the northeast and east of the town.
According to archeologists, in IV c B/C-III A/D here existed a fortress. The flourishment of town dates back to the period of Khoresm shahs reign (XI-beginning of VIII). After Mongol invasion of the fortress underwent some restoration work but was invaded by the army of Timur. Archeological excavations revealed here ruins of a big mosque (XII-XIII) richly decorated by cut alabaster. Big artistic value possesses the discovered mihrab(altar niche) with its tracery alabaster semi columns decorated by various ornaments and Arabic inscriptions. Among artifacts found from the site there is a well-preserved bronze pot covered by inscriptions and ornaments.
