Photographer's Note
"Copyright © – Attila Szili.
The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved."
Kunya-Urgench is situated in north-western Turkmenistan, on the left bank of the Amu Daria River. Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm region, part of the Achaemenid Empire. The old town contains a series of monuments mainly from the 11th to 16th centuries, including a mosque, the gates of a caravanserai, fortresses, mausoleums and a 60-m high minaret.
The mausoleum of Sultan Tekesh (1172 - 1200)in the foreground stands near the Fakhr al-Din al-Razi mausoleum and Kutlug Timur minaret, in Kunya Urgench (or Gurganj), the dynastic capital of the Khwarazm Shahs (1077 - 1231). Also referred to as the Gokgumbaz (blue cupola) or the Sheikh Sherip Baba mausoleum by the local populace, this mausoleum's construction date and patron have not been established. An elaborate specimen of Khwarazm's pyramidal-roof-atop-brick-cube funerary typology, the structure draws influences from both the Seljuk tomb tower and domed square mausoleum typologies.
The Minaret of Kutlug Timur is the tallest minaret in Central Asia. Its height is 62 m, and is decorated with bands of brick and a few remaning turquoise tiles. This is one of the more impressive points of Kunya-Urgench.
It has been supposed that its construction began in the 11th century, during the rule of Khoresm Shah Аbu-Abbas Mamun. For unknown reasons, construction was interrupted for a very long time, and was completed only in 1321-1336, in the time of Kutlug-Timur (the vice-regent of the Golden Horde).
Critiques | Translate
Vato_Law
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1939 W: 177 N: 2986]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif){kind=small}
(12732) 2010-08-18 15:55
Hello Attila,
how are you? nice to see you're still around!
Still around and still making trips thru this world and discovering some beautiful monuments or places to show us.
It's impressive that those countries of the former USSR have so much beautiful things to be discovered, things that to be honest I never tought could exist in such quantity on those stops.
Cheers.
Paulo
paololg
(31448) 2010-08-18 16:36
Ciao caro Attila,
interessante immagine, apprezzabile non solo per questi tre monumenti catturati con perfetta qualità fotografica, ma soprattutto per lo stile della composizione, che ci ricorda un pò i dipinti della metafisica, con l'enfasi delle prospettive e dei grandi spazi. Grazie alla perfetta nitidezza ci dai il piacere di ammirare ogni piccolo dettaglio, anche il più distante. Bravissimo, amico mio, come sempre!
Ciao, buon giovedì!
Paolo
daddo
(28748) 2010-08-18 16:44
Hi Attila. The few remaining tiles indicate that it must have been a most beautiful mausoleum, seen from a long distance as its tiles dazzled the eye under the strong light. The structure still looks grand. Nice to see that like many of the other long timers you haven't succumbed to the manipulation of colours in order to make the work look like something from Fauvism. Regards. Klaudio.
chandrapranil
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 205 W: 29 N: 111]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-s-g.gif){kind=small}
(1087) 2010-08-18 21:49
Hi Attila,
A nicely framed shot with very good sharpness. The dry surroundings with a clear bright blue sky is a good feature of this shot
Thank you for sharing
Pranil
PixelTerror
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 9758 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2010-08-18 22:20
Szia Attila
Still good oldies to post from Turkmenbashi's paradise...
Nice structure in the desert void, and a good side approach
Have a nice day JY
danos
(110407) 2010-08-18 22:43
Good morning Attila,
where have you been my friend,in this Central Asia country.Great because i never seen photos from this country.I like the combination of the Mausoleum with the tallest Minaret of Central Asia,as the cone dome of the Mausoleum and the way that outlined against the blue sky.The quality of the photo is unique.Well done.
Have a nice day,Danos
emka
(158058) 2010-08-18 23:13
Hi Attila,
Turkmenistan - a place of which a little is known (to me, at least). Very interesting architecture of the Central Asia. The area around it looks abandoned for centuries. This tall minaret looks like a factory chimney. Very strange. Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice day
MAlgorzata
HimalAnda
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1028 W: 7 N: 1055]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
(10671) 2010-08-18 23:27
Hello Attila,
The composition is good, the light management too and the colors are very nice.
This place is beautiful and it should have been wonderful in the past when the roof was made with blue tiles.
Stéphane
Graal
(103040) 2010-08-19 0:19
Jó napot Attila,
unusual place in Turkmenistan. Amazing monument, good note and presentation. I like it.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander
pauloog
(11751) 2010-08-19 0:20
Hello Attila,
A most interesting sight of the two islamic buildings. Well brought with good sidelight that enhances the structure of the architecture. Men's inspiration in commemorating the death and expressing its faith is really endless.
Regards,
Paul
dip
(21408) 2010-08-19 1:23
Hello Attila,
I saw in the 'Statistics' of TE,that there are just 61 photos from Turkmenistan!
an interesting image of architecture and informative note,very good sharpness and lighting,
thanks for sharing,
greetings,
Dimitris.
dta
(98848) 2010-08-19 2:23
hello Attila ,
An interesting composition , with the perspective on the three diffrent buildings .
Excellent exposure . Well done .
Regards
Cricri
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 16597 W: 159 N: 27]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-s.gif){kind=small}
(176) 2010-08-20 10:14
Bonjour Attila
Un POV intéressant sur la perspective de ces trois éléments très différents, la lumière est belle, les couleurs et les détails bien rendu, intéressante note
Amitiés
cricri
bobocortis
(16090) 2010-09-15 12:57
Ciao Attila.
La foto è molto semplice ma l'ottima definizione e la pulizia della composizione ne fanno un ottimo lavoro.
Il cielo che cresce di saturazione dal basso verso l'alto è un magnifico sfondo.
Ciao.
Bobo.
wojtpod
(774) 2010-09-30 10:08
Hello Attila!
You show very interesting place. It's very exotic for me. Awesome sharpness and colors.
Congratulations!
Best regards,
Wojtek
Bournazel
![Gold Star Critiquer [C: 254 W: 0 N: 0]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-n-n.gif){kind=small}
(0) 2010-12-11 0:20
Bonjour attila
you show us places which are not very seen on TE
Impressive and beautiful minaret and very interesting comment
Merci
Vincent
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Attila Szili (atus)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2069 W: 207 N: 4541]](//i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(15878) - Genre: Lugares
- Medium: Cor
- Date Taken: 2006-06-19
- Categories: Arquitectura, Ruínas
- Camera: Nikon D70, Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G ED DX
- Exposição: f/8
- More Photo Info: view
- Versão da Foto: Versão Original
- Date Submitted: 2010-08-18 15:44
