The monument built in honor of the leader of the Sheikhs - Usif Kuseyir oghlu tomb

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Published on Wednesday, 23 August 2017 17:34

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Nakhchivan, the cultural center of Azerbaijan, is rich in historical monuments, preserving the rich heritage of our ancestors, reflecting the magnificence of the Eastern architecture and Turkish-Islamic culture. One of such monuments is the tomb of Usif Kuseyir oghlu, the first result of Achami’s potency, dating back to VIII centuries ago.

The double dome structure of the tomb is an example of the only monumental monument that preserved its previous shape until our time. We interviewed Fakhraddin Safarli, director of the Institute of History, Ethnography and Archeology of Nakhchivan  Branch of ANAS, correspondent member of ANAS, to get information about this ancient cultural monument, which is a witness of our great history. He noted that this monument was built  by  one of the greatest representatives of Nakhchivan-Maragha architecture and the Azerbaijani architecture  architect Ajami Nakhchivani in 1162. This information is mentioned in the inscription on the upper surface of the dome. The monument consists of an underground vault and a towershaped part. As the vault is under ground, the tomb looks like a single-layer tower from outside. The aboveground part of the monument is octagonal both from inside and outside.

As the tower of the tomb is made of internal and external recesses,  the corner sections in the form of thick supports make   a constructive system similar to the cage structure. This structure also reinforces the visibility of the outer appearance of the monument. The main issue is to provide the longevity of the building, which intermediate walls are not so thick, due to the constructive strength of the corners.  It is the result of  mastery engineering that Usif Kuseyir oghlu tomb  is the only tomb having upper pyramidal cover and remaining undestroyed during 800 years among the towerformed tombs in Azerbaijan. All eight surfaces of the tomb were decorated with different geometric ornaments. These ornaments were assembled  with   baked small bricks and then were reinforced againist  the surfaces by joining a frying fan form with a lime solution. I must note that construction of Usif Kuseyir oghlu tomb and also its decorative laying was built of one material, with qualified burnt bricks. This one rises the completeness of simple, clear and pure geometric shape of monument and gives a common, expressive and reddish picteresque to the tomb. This picturesque is enriched with the prismatic base, pyramidal dome, sinuous face, rich light-shade ranges.

In terms of structure , only one surface of the tomb - the west facing surface has been solved otherwise. There is the entrance door of the tomb. This section, which is given in the form of borders on the arch formed door, became the form of a portal through the projections.

The interior of Usif Kuseyir oghlu tomb was not decorated. The inside of the outer recesses was covered with dense geometric patterns collected from bricks. The body on the recesses is covered with writing field. With its elegance and decorative nature, this inscription creates a light pass between the body and the cover. On the left side of the entrance door of this inscription the name of the architect is written by Kufi writing. In the inscription to the left of the main façade the name of an architect “Deed of Ajami Abubakr oglu Nakhchivani, builder” was stated. The other inscription on the tomb predicts that, “This tomb belongs to Usif Kuseyir oglu, leader of sheikhs, beautiness of Islam, intellect of religion, distinguished chief and khaja”. Sharp-pointed pyramidal cover looks like based on the subtle network of writing but not on the whole prismatic body. The architect  lightened the inside of the recesses with embroidery compositions, raised vertical rhythm of corners, constructive value. Outer surfaces, thus, proper fitting, as a whole, the tomb  received a high architectural and artistic appearance and architectural structure.

The architect gave an arch composition on the northern face of the tomb, placed an entrance door to the aboveground  tower on it. The door was inserted in a deeper recess and decorated with a large inscription board. As the architect worked details, figures delicately, this face is turned into the main element of the attitude viewed from all sides.

It should be noted that in recent years, the state care for historical monuments in the autonomous republic has also included Usif Kuseyir oghlu tomb. Thus, the electricity   line was built inside the tomb and the lighting system was installed. Landscaping works were carried out around the monument, greenery measures were carried out and seats were arranged.

In general, the care and support to the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage in the autonomous republic are sufficient. However, the importance of our historical monuments is insufficiently understood by some people, their surroundings are ruined and littered. Of course, such unpleasant circumstances are socially irresponsible and inadmissible. Everyone has a great deal of work to increase public activity and responsibility in order to protect our cultural heritage. Local residents should also be mobilized for the protection and promotion of all monuments in the autonomous republic. 

Guljamal Tahirova

“Sharg Qapisi” 

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