The Mausoleum of Abu Mansour Maturidi

The mausoleum of Abu Mansur Maturidi is located in Samarkand, not far from Registan Square, which contains some of the most beautiful architectural monuments of the city. The structure was built over the tomb of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, a famous theologian, interpreter of the surahs of the Quran and philosopher in Uzbekistan. His ideas had many followers who developed them and created treatises of a new philosophical trend in Islam — Maturidism, named after its founder. One of their principles was an interpretation of Islam based on reason, rather than blindly following religious canons and authorities.

The theologian was buried at the famous Chokardiza cemetery in Samarkand, on the territory of which, according to legend, about three thousand interpreters of the word of God are buried. The mausoleum was destroyed in the first half of the 20th century, and in the early 2000s an entire memorial complex was erected on this site as a sign of reverence for the outstanding philosopher of his time and his contribution to the study and interpretation of Islam.

The building is one of the buildings that adorn the city, it is the fascinating architecture of the city and the local flavor that attract many travelers here. Samarkand is considered one of the most ancient cities in the world, which has experienced various periods of its existence — there were stages of rapid development and decline. The city was an important point on the route of the Great Silk Road — caravans traveling from China to Europe stopped here. Thanks to him, not only the exchange of goods took place, he contributed to the spread of cultural and spiritual values, religious teachings.

The city has repeatedly surrendered under the onslaught of various conquerors, in the 13th century Genghis Khan's troops came here, conquered it and destroyed a significant part of the city. However, Samarkand recovered quite quickly and during the reign of Tamerlane (Timur) became the capital of his empire, the ruler developed the city, built magnificent and ornate buildings. At the same time, the city was becoming a scientific center.

Many of the buildings preserved in the city belong to the XIV—XVI centuries. — the period of Timurid rule, the dynasty founded by Timur. Mosques, mausoleums, and madrassas are precious architectural monuments that not only adorn the city, but also tell about its history, culture, and traditions. Tourists like to stroll through the historical streets of the city, taste local cuisine and study national crafts, many of them bring handicrafts from the trip.

The architecture of the mausoleum

Abu Mansour al-Maturidi's personality is respected in Uzbekistan, and his memory is especially revered in Samarkand, where he was buried. In 2000, during the celebration of the anniversary of the philosopher's birth, it was decided to restore the mausoleum at his burial place. Talented craftsmen worked on the implementation of the project, the best traditions of the national architecture of Uzbekistan were used in the construction and decoration of the building. As a result, an entire memorial complex was built in a short time, the center of which was the mausoleum. Other architectural sites and a cozy park are also located on its territory.

The mausoleum building has the shape of a square with a side length of 12 meters and is completed with a double dome in the shape of a hemisphere. The height of the building is approximately 15 meters. Its ribbed outer dome is lined with blue ceramic majolica, the drum is decorated with arches and alabaster window grilles. The facade of the building and the interiors are richly decorated with majolica, mosaics, and ganch carvings. The white marble tombstone is immortalized by the famous aphorisms of the scientist.

In the direction of the west from the walls of the mausoleum stands a low building topped with a domed vault, and on the north side there is a sufa with tombstones dating from the period from the 9th to the 18th century. In the beautiful garden, there is a cozy gazebo near the burial of the famous jurist Margiloni.

How to get

The mausoleum of Abu Mansur Maturidi is located in the historical center of Samarkand, it is convenient to get here by public transport. You can get off at the Registan Square bus stop and combine an inspection of the mausoleum with a visit to the iconic historical architectural sites located in the central square of the city. Buses No. 3, 41 and 92 stop here. Another option is to get off at the Panjakent Yuli bus stop, through which the same transport routes pass.

It is inexpensive to get to the attraction by taxi, and iTaxi is considered a popular service in the city, which also has a mobile application for calling a driver. TTM taxi and Archidea Mirage services also operate in Samarkand.