Tomb of Ahmed Sanjar
| Tomb of Ahmad Sanjar | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Basic information | |
| Location |
 Merv, Turkmenistan
|
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Year consecrated | 1157 |
| Status | in ruins |
| Architect(s) | Muhammad ibn Aziz of Sarakhs |
| Specifications | |
| Width | 17 m |
| Height (max) | 27 m |
The Tomb of Ahmad Sanjar was built in Merv in 1157, following the death of Ahmad Sanjar, sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire. It is reported that his tomb was the site of pilgrimages.
The mausoleum stood 27m high and was 17m by 17m wide. The walls were 14m high and had no major decorations. This was one of the grandest Seljuk tombs, with an ambitious gallery and a single dome of blue glazed bricks with the drum being buttressed at four points. Sanjar's mausoleum was part of a larger complex consisting of a mosque and palace, while the mausoleum was centered in a vast courtyard.
In 1221, Mongols, led by Tolui, attacked Merv killing 700,000 people and burning the mausoleum.
A report made in 1879-81 describes the tomb being in the center of a chahar bagh, surrounded by small tombs and graves.
Coordinates: 37°39′51″N 62°09′49″E / 37.6643°N 62.1637°E
...
Wikipedia