Dehistan/Mishrian

The former city of Dehistan/Mashhad-i Misrian (Turkmen: Dehistan), now in the Balkan Region of western Turkmenistan, was a major economic center from the 10th to the 14th centuries CE. The city lay on an important trade route of the states comprising Greater Iran.^[1]

Sites[edit]

Misrian[edit]

A double-walled city punctuated with guard-towers, Misrian was abandoned c. 15th century.^[1]^[2] Only a few monuments survive:^[2]

Mosque of Khorezmshah Mohammed: Nothing stands except the two side columns of the main portal —18 m. in height, decorated with brickwork and turquoise glaze to render floral and geometric patterns— and a minaret at the corner of courtyard.^[2] The foundation of the mosque, comprising numerous fired-brick columns, have been excavated and restored.^[2] In the center of the courtyard, Niyazov had installed 3 evergreen trees within a fence in 1993.^[2]
Abu-Jafar Ahmed Minaret: About 120 m. away from the courtyard minaret, this was designed by one Abu Bini Ziyad c. early 11th century.^[2] It features two rings of Arab inscriptions, and a higher ring of geometric motifs.^[2] A spiral staircase can be used to access the top.^[2]
Caravansarays: Excavations have discovered bases of multiple caravansarays.^[2]

Mashat[edit]

A medieval graveyard, the site houses five mausoleums along a single line; in nineteenth century, there were apparently about twenty.^[2] All are either circular or octagonal, and lack in domes.^[2] Adjacent to this line, is located the Shir-kabir Mosque-Maousoleum atop a mound.^[3]^[4] Dated to 9th/10th century, this is the oldest extant mosque in Turkmenistan

World Heritage Status[edit]

This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on February 25, 1998, in the Cultural category.^[1]

External links[edit]

Mosque of Khorezmshah Mohammed:
- Image of the minaret.
- Image of an entrance portal, mostly ruined and isolated from the perimeter.
- Image of a ruined arch — one half stands tall amidst a pile of bricks.
Abu-Jafar Ahmed Minaret:
- Image snapped from some distance. Mosque of Khorezmshah Mohammed is visible in the background.
Shir-kabir Mosque-Maousoleum:
- Image.

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Dehistan / Mishrian - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
^ Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
^ Gye, David; Hillenbrand, Robert (2001). "Mausolea at Merv and Dehistan". Iran. 39: 53–54. ISSN 0578-6967.

38°16′12″N 54°37′30″E / 38.2700°N 54.6250°E / 38.2700; 54.6250

[unesco-1] Dehistan / Mishrian - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

[:05-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.

[:053-3] Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 154. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.

[4] Gye, David; Hillenbrand, Robert (2001). "Mausolea at Merv and Dehistan". Iran. 39: 53–54. ISSN 0578-6967.

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