The first Samanids became governors in various towns of present-day Uzbekistan in 819 and ruled virtually independently from 874. The empire reached its apogee under the rule of Ismail Samani. From the capital Bukhara, it spread to the present-day states of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Iran.
construction of samanids mausoleum
The mausoleum in Bukhara was built on the order of Ismail Samani and dedicated to his father. It later became a family burial place, where Ismail and several of his descendants were buried. It is one of the oldest monuments of Bukhara, which is preserved in excellent condition. The building is considered a masterpiece of architecture of the 10th century. The construction method is unique: no other country in Central Asia knows such construction. Therefore, it is assumed that the way of construction of the building dates back to pre-Arabic times. However, this cannot be proven as less durable materials such as wood and clay bricks were used at that period. Some researchers believe this style is based on the Zoroastrian temple of fire.
The mausoleum is one of the few buildings in Bukhara which the Mongols have not destroyed. Originally it stood in the centre of the cemetery, but it was covered by layers of sand over the centuries and was fully uncovered during the 20th century.
The building material for the mausoleum was burnt brick. At first glance, the building looks very simple: a cube base with a dome. However, it was built with incredible architectural precision. The substructure, which has a square base, each side length of about 10 metres and a height of about 14 metres, almost naturally merges with the eight arches into the dome, which is about 9 metres high. Only bricks were used to decorate the building, thanks to the different orientations and their use (flat, vertical, diagonal, projecting, overlapping, etc.). An extremely harmonious decoration is created, providing the mausoleum with a certain lightness.
The Samanid Mausoleum is now considered one of the symbols of Bukhara. It is located in the old town of Bukhara in Ismail Samani Park, used as an amusement park for children and popular with young couples. The park has a relatively pleasant temperature in the high summer because of the lake, canals, and many trees.