MUMMY KHATUN'S MAUSOLEUM

The mausoleum of Momine Shefali is the architectural emblem of the city of Nakhchivan. Built in 1186 by the famous architect Ajami ibn Bakr Nakhchivani (one of the main representatives of the Nakhchivan school, renowned in the 34 th century, and influenced by the Azerbaijani architecture for many centuries), this mausoleum shaped with ten sides is almost m from the ground. It is one of the best preserved th century monuments in the country. Its facade is decorated with interlaced geometric motifs, which colour bricks covered with turquoise ceramics. A coufique inscription engraved in the dome reminds us that «We are temporal, the world is eternal, we die, but memory remains». Momine Shefali's identity remains somewhat mysterious: the role and filiation of this local princess are still subject to bail, even though, according to the most commonly accepted version, she was the wife of Ildegizid Atabek Djakhan Pakhlevan. In any case, it is the architect who is in honour with this mausoleum, as evidenced by his statue, located at the foot of the building. This same architect is also the origin of the tomb of Yusuf ibn Kusir, which can be seen near the cemetery of the city, despite its largely dilapidated state.

Open air museum. At the foot of the mausoleum Momina Khatum, many tombstones recovered throughout the Autonomous Republic are aligned. You can also admire some petroglyphs, most of them from the Gamigaya site.