An unique example of Turkish-Islamic culture - Ordubad Geysariyya

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Published on Thursday, 05 April 2018 11:35

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A number of various architectural monuments of Turkish-Islamic culture were constructed in the territory of Nakhchivan in medieval ages. In this territory where one of the most developed branches of Azerbaijani architecture, the Nakhchivan school was created and formed at that time, a large number of tombs, mosques, khanagahs, ice-houses, caravansaries, bridges, bath-houses, civil buildings and other monuments which considered the magnificent examples of Turkish-Islamic culture were erected. One of such monuments is the Geysariyya monument, which is one of the rare examples of Azerbaijani architecture built in Ordubad during the reign of Safavid ruler I Shah Abbas. The monument built in the center of Ordubad city, in the market square played a significant role in the trade-economical life of the population and the city in medieval ages.

Geysariyyas were included in the market groups which played an important role in city trade in medieval ages. Sometimes they were called “Badistan” and included in closed market types. As expensive goods imported from foreign countries and made by local artisans, in particular, jewelry were sold there, these markets also were called “Shah market”. The sources say that during the Middle Ages, Geysariyyas were not found   in every city. For example, though there were 3000 houses, 3 caravansaries, 5 bath-houses, 600 shops, nearly 70 squares in Marand city in XVIII century, there was no Geysariyya.

It is clear from the information sources that has come to our time, the city's size is not the main reason for the existence of Geysariyya during the Middle Ages. Although Ordubad was smaller than Marand, but there was Geysariyya. During the Middle Ages, though Ardabil was not included in the big cities of Azerbaijan, but there was Geysariyya too. It is known that Ardabil city had a special status as it was the homeland of Safavids. This city, where the ancestors of the Safavids lived and buried, was located on the trade-caravan routes connecting the northern and southern parts of the state, and it was also a very important commercial center. In the center of the city there was a market square, with a length of 300 steps, a width of 150 steps, and shops on both sides. There was a closed, four-cornered Geysariyya behind the square. This market played an important role in the city’s commercial life, domestic and foreign trade. Gold, silver products, high quality silk, expensive and valuable goods were sold in this market. This market was called “trade exchange” in the sources of medieval ages.

Geysariyya functioned in Tabriz which was the capital of the Safavid state for more than half a century, a major trading and craft center of Azerbaijan, in the city of Isfahan, which became the capital of the Safavid Empire from 1598, in Nakhchivan, one of the important centers of science, education, culture, trade and crafts of Azerbaijan. There was no broad information about the Geysariyya located in Nakhchivan. But Ovliya Chalabi, who was in Nakhchivan in the middle of XVII century, wrote that there were rich merchants and tradesmen in the “Shah market” of the city. Each of them is highly valued merchants who are equal to Garun's wealth.

One of the geysariyyas which played an important role in the trade-economical life of the medieval cities operated in Ordubad. Geysariyya which reached up our time despite of the weathering is located in the center of the city, on the left bank of the Dubandi river, near the Jame mosque. The total area of the monument built of baked bricks is 540 square meters. According to the architectural structure Geysariyya consists of the central octagonal a hall with a size of 10x10 meters, round dome covering the hall, complex structured four feet which keep the dome on the corners, crossings (width 3,4 meter) placed between the feet and wall recesses. The ceiling of the crossings was covered with 16 small domes. The thickness of walls built of baked bricks is 80 centimeters. The height of the monument is 8,5 meter including central dome.

Building of Gaysariyya in the city of Ordubad, which is relatively small, attracts attention, because geysariyyas was mainly built in cities which had commercial and economic significance in the Middle Ages. In our view, this should be explained as a result of the increase of the political and trade-economic reputation of Ordubad during the Safavid era. Because Ordubad was given the attention and care of the Safavid rulers during the Safavid rule. Even the Safavid ruler, I Shah Abbas, issued a decree in 1604 to free the Ordubad city population from a number of taxes paid to the treasury. I Shah Abbas had gone to Ordubad and some suburban villages several times, and enjoyed its beautiful atmosphere, delicious fruits, clean water. That is why, as a result of the care in the 17th century, there the building of Gaysariyya was built during the reign of I Shah Abbas. The factor of Nasraddin Tusi generation, living in this city and its villages was also affected it. The representatives of this generation have played an important role not only in the socio-political life of the region but also in the whole state. Since the Safavid era, they worked as Ordubad governors - kalantars. Even the representative of the family, Hatam bey Ordubadi, was got the position of the grand vizier of Shah Abbas, and was awarded the title of "etimad ad-dovla". There is no doubt that all these factors play a crucial role in the construction and operation of the Gaysariyya building in the city.

Gaysariyya in Ordubad, which is one of the rare monuments in eastern architecture, has long been described as Zorkhana building in the history and architecture literature, and even during the Soviet era, there is a plaque stating that it was a Zorkhana building and a historical and cultural monument next to the entrance. Academician A.Salamzade wrote that the recognition of the people as "Gaysariyya" makes it possible to put forward such an opinion that it was only later used as a Zorkhana.

According to the local population, when it was operating as Zorkhana, they put the bushes of astragalus onto the floor of the building and poured land on it. After that, the wrestlers from Iran, Ottoman Empire and elsewhere wrestled there. The winner got a sack of gold from the khan. In the 19th century, the building of Gaysariyya was used for various purposes, there was a silk factory. It continued during the Soviet era. At that time, the building was divided into sections and used as a warehouse, a dining room, a shop. The History-Ethnography Museum, located in the Jame Mosque for a while, was moved to Gaysariyya building in 1981.

As time passed, there was a need for restoration of the Gaysariyya building because of erosion. Therefore, in 2010, by the instruction of Mr. Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, major overhaul was done in the building of Gaysariyya. The roof of the building was repaired, old networks were replaced with new ones, a 200 square meter network system was constructed. The interior walls of the building were restored and decorated with embroidered bricks. For the History-Ethnography Museum which will operate in this building, rooms for employees and fund, a separate boiling room were built, a proper lighting system installed in the exposition hall, the surroundings of the monument was renovated.

After completion of the restoration work, the state-level opening ceremony of the monument was held. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, said: "Historical monuments in Ordubad, the pearl of Azerbaijan, are being restored and they hand down the next generations. The history of every land is not only in books, but on its land, buildings and monuments. Those who love their history, their homeland, should protect the monuments and hand them down the next generations. Each of us must feel proud of our history, and we must show the world that our great ancestors had such a rich history".

After the high-level restoration work and the opening ceremony, the Ordubad region History-Ethnography Museum has begun to continue its activities in the Gaysariyya building.

Fakhraddin SAFARLI

Director of the History, Ethnography and Archeology Institute of ANAS Nakhchivan Branch,

 Corresponding Member of ANAS

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