BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 20. On August 20,
Azerbaijani journalists visiting Uzbekistan toured the historic
Shakhi Zinda memorial complex in Samarkand.
Twenty representatives from Azerbaijan’s leading media outlets
are participating in the press tour. Among the participants is Emin
Aliyev, editor-in-chief of the Trend International News Agency.
Located near the ruins of the ancient city of Afrasiab, Shakhi
Zinda is one of Samarkand’s most iconic historical landmarks. Its
mausoleums, built in different periods, blend harmoniously into a
remarkable architectural ensemble, densely arranged along a narrow
medieval street. The complex comprises eleven mausoleums.
The complex evolved over several centuries, encompassing
mausoleums, mosques, and other structures from the 11th to the 19th
centuries. The greater part of its surviving architecture dates to
the Timurid period.
The architectural details of the complex especially impressed
the Azerbaijani journalists. Shakhi Zinda’s architecture reflects
the rich interaction of artistic traditions across Central Asia and
the East. The octagonal design of some medieval mausoleums is
particularly notable, with parallels in Azerbaijani and western
Iranian architecture. These similarities highlight the influence of
the medieval Azerbaijani architectural school and point to close
cultural ties and artistic exchange across the medieval East.
Today, Shakhi Zinda is regarded not only as a prominent monument
of Samarkand but also as a vivid testament to the centuries-old
cultural exchange among the peoples of the region. For Uzbekistan
and Azerbaijan, it symbolizes the historic ties, friendship, and
mutual respect between the two brotherly nations.
