The Azerbaijan State News Agency

OFFICIAL NEWS

Shaki Khan’s Mosque Complex was restored by Heydar Aliyev Foundation VIDEO

Shaki, December 2, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva have viewed the restoration work carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation at the Shaki Khan’s Mosque Complex.

Assistant to the President Anar Alakbarov informed President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva of the restoration work carried out in the complex.

The Shaki Khan mosque complex in the reserve has been put into use after major restoration. The restoration work in the historic Shaki Khan Mosque was launched by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in May 2021. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has also supported research on skeletal samples discovered during excavations and believed to belong to the Shaki Khan’s family.

It was noted that restoration work in the mosque complex was carried out on the basis of a project prepared by the Architecture and Civil Engineering University on the order of the State Tourism Agency. The mosque is listed as a monument of national importance and dates back to the period of khanates (1745-1750). According to historical sources and inscriptions on it, the mosque was built by Haji Mahammadhuseyn Khan.

The 13 main graves in the cemetery located next to the mosque belong to representatives of the Khan’s dynasty. The cemetery was named Khan’s Cemetery because only members of the Khan’s dynasty were buried in it.

It was pointed out that the 21-meter minaret of the mosque was built using baked bricks and lime mortar. There is a circular staircase reaching the balcony here. The arched porch on the front façade of the mosque gives the mosque particular beauty. The mosque, designed in 1981, was never restored in the following years.

As part of the restoration work launched by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in 2021, 3D measurement work was carried out in the Khan mosque complex located on the premises of the “Yukhari Bash” National Historical-Architectural Reserve in the city of Shaki. These activities were important in terms of reinstating the initial appearance of the mosque complex. The buildings located in the area, including the main building and minaret of the mosque, auxiliary buildings, the fence around the complex and the cemetery, were scanned and a 3D model of the mosque was prepared. During the restoration work carried out on the basis of the initial appearance of the mosque complex, the bricks that became unusable due to climate impacts were replaced with new ones and masonry work was carried out using baked bricks. In order to protect the bricks of the minaret from erosion, an insulating layer was created using special materials. At the same time, the windows used during the initial construction of the mosque and the door used by Mahammadhuseyn Khan were restored. Based on architect feedback, the original appearance of two of the windows was returned using shabaka, one of the traditional local architectural attributes.

Since there were no available photos of the mosque’s ceiling, the State Tourism Agency and designers made a joint decision to assemble a new ceiling reminiscent of the shabaka structure used in the Godak minaret mosque and the Shaki Khan Palace. The interior and exterior walls of the building were restored based on the photos of 1961.

It was noted that a new pool was built instead of the old one in the courtyard of the mosque. A protection zone has been created around the Khan’s plane and other trees in the courtyard. In accordance with the project, a ceremonial hall, an ablution room and administrative rooms have been built in the territory of the mosque. The ancient entrance gate and stairs of the mosque have been restored, including the tombstones in the Khan’s cemetery located south of it.

In June 2021, as part of the restoration work in the mosque, large raft stones were discovered underneath the sanctuary. For this reason, restoration work in that section was suspended and inspection carried out by the Shaki archaeological expedition. The discovery of 52 beads and a bronze rosary in the grave suggested that the buried person was of a high religious or public status. Proceeding from such a possibility, as well as Salman Mumtaz’s records, and the presence of information carried out on the basis of the information found in other different studies of the burial of Shaki Khan Mahammadhuseyn Mushtagh under the sanctuary of the Khan Mosque, additional inspections were carried out on the findings. To support experts, with the assistance of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, samples were taken from the discovered skeleton bones and sent to the laboratory of Oxford University in Great Britain for radiocarbon and genetic analysis. Researches and genetic analyses were conducted in Great Britain, Austria, Estonia and Turkiye on the basis of discovered skeleton samples and those taken from other graves of the Khan’s dynasty. The results of the laboratory analysis and the expert opinion of the ANAS Institute of Archaeology, Ethnography and Anthropology proved that the discovered grave belongs to Mahammadhuseyn Khan of Shaki.

It was also mentioned that a museum had been established on the premises of the mosque complex with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The museum displays different exhibits from the time of the Shaki Khanate, as well as material and cultural artifacts collected from various sources. The museum demonstrates the special role the creation and formation of the Shaki Khanate have played in the history of Azerbaijani national statehood. Exhibited on the first floor of the two-level museum are copper vessels, national costumes, jewelry from the time of the Shaki Khanate, wall-mounted mirrors that used to decorate the houses of Shaki merchants in the 18th century, chests that were placed in front of them according to the Shaki tradition, and samples of the traditional art of Shaki kalaghayi. The electronic board on the first floor of the museum displays information about the history, political, socioeconomic life, culture of the Shaki khanate and Shaki khans in Azerbaijani and English languages. Displayed on the second floor are Shaki carpets, various carpet-making accessories, the book “History of the Shaki Khans” by Abdullatif Afandi, as well as publications from the time of the Shaki Khanate, a shabaka sample, 18th century coins used by Shaki khans, samples of weapons from the 18-19th centuries.

One of the main areas of the museum is the Khan’s room on the second floor. The room shows how Shaki Khan Mahammadhuseyn Mushtagh prayed in the building, organized literary gatherings, hosted various receptions and played chess. Displayed in this room is the oud, a musical instrument used in the literary gatherings hosted by Shaki Khan Mahammadhuseyn Mushtagh, the replica of the throne of Shaki Khan Mahammadhuseyn designed on the basis of images from historical sources in 2014-2015, and the clothes the Khan wore based on the miniature images in the Shaki Khan Palace. The Khan's room is also decorated with a chess board of Khan Mahammadhuseyn, who impressed everyone with his playing skills, and the Holy Quran, which he constantly read. The flag of the Shaki Khanate used in the 18th century and the battle flag of Shaki Khan Salim Khan are also on display in the room. The Khan's room also features a desk of Khan Mahammadhuseyn, who wrote poems under the pseudonym of “Mushtagh” and corresponded with famous poets of that time.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

VIDEO

Shaki Khan’s Mosque Complex was restored by Heydar Aliyev Foundation VIDEO

Transit officials approve New York City traffic congestion fee

Azerbaijani weightlifters to fight for glory at 2024 IWF World Cup

Taha Ayhan: We want to share the story of the liberation of Shusha with the whole world

Hirshhorn at 50: ‘Revolutions’ offers an artistic journey through time, Arts innovations

Attacks in NYC transit jump a massive 50% as subway murders surge: stats

Protocol signed to implement Shusha OIC Youth Capital-2024 program

Pope appears in better health, praises Israeli and Arab fathers who both lost daughters in conflict

Latvian foreign minister resigns amid private flights controversy

Azerbaijan's Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population meets with UNDP Resident Representative

Rediscovered Raphael masterpiece to be exhibited in French Basilica

Draft law on Corsica`s autonomy adopted. MP Josepha Giacometti Piredda protests describing it as “shackles”

China’s CATL to cut its EV battery costs by up to 50% this year, heralding a price war

UN chief applauds Türkiye's Global Zero Waste Initiative, calls for end to waste cycle

Azerbaijani ambassador meets with representatives of Egyptian media outlets

Türkiye ‘neutralizes’ 38 PKK/YPG terrorists over past week

Azerbaijani boxers claim 2 golds at Great Silk Way international tournament

Azerbaijani female boxers claim nine medals at Great Silk Way International Tournament-2024

From Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa

With 783 million people going hungry, a fifth of all food goes to waste, UN says

Trump leads Biden by 5 points in new national poll

Chairman of Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee meets with Egyptian ambassador

Georgian Gov’t approves 2024-2025 climate change action plan

Guivami Rahimli: “…Azerbaijan’s aim is to transform the role of energy in international relations from fueling disagreements to oiling cooperation…”

Azerbaijani Ombudsperson meets with residents of Armenian origin in Khankendi

Seoul bus drivers go on general strike

Azerbaijan to pin hopes on seven female gymnasts at 35th Rhythmic Gymnastics International Grand Prix in France

Western Azerbaijan Community issues statement

Practical classes held with Military Institute’s cadets

Telescope shares clear image of Sagittarius A* black hole in Milky Way Galaxy

Artificial intelligence laboratory launched at Baku Higher Oil School for first time among higher education institutions in Azerbaijan

Election results confirm Bassirou Diomaye Faye's victory in Senegal's presidential race

Azerbaijani oil price declines in global markets

Oil prices surge in global markets

Moscow checks, discusses with Baku alleged arms deliveries to Kiev — MFA

Russian diplomat accuses France of intelligence operations in Caucasus

Childbirths in S. Korea hit another low in January

Azerbaijani delegation of Chamber of Accounts visits US

China opens WTO dispute against US subsidies to protect its EV industry

Aykhan Hajizade: We strongly condemn anti-Azerbaijani allegations in report prepared by group led by Rasmussen

Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts

Türkiye says it will always ‘stand shoulder to shoulder’ with Pakistan in fight against terrorism

Obama, fearing Biden loss to Trump, is on the phone to strategize

Georgian PM, Parliament Speaker nominate national football team for Medal of Honour

Türkiye to host 2027 European Games

Passenger traffic at Baku Airport increased by more than 30% during the holidays

Number of those injured in Moscow attack rises to 360

35 more families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys VIDEO

Controversial Titanic floating door prop sells for $718,750

Humans pass more viruses to other animals than we catch from them

On World Theatre Day, ICESCO calls for greater integration of “father of all arts” into school curricula

Black Carbon: Not just pollutant, but also driver of global warming

From Daniel Noboa Azín, Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador

Two Azerbaijani boxers qualify for final of Great Silk Way International Tournament-2024

1 in 3 migrant deaths occur en route to escape conflict: UN migration agency

ICESCO obtains Observer status in Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network

China sends multirole satellite into orbit VIDEO

® Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic elected Honorary Member of the Editorial Board of the My Azerbaijan International Magazine

Japan aims to launch next-generation passenger aircraft by around 2035

Global oil prices drop

Austria stun Türkiye 6-1 in international friendly

Six workers presumed dead after crippled cargo ship knocks down Baltimore bridge

Azerbaijani oil price drops on world markets

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry: Statements by EU and US clearly have a one-sided and biased character VIDEO

2 UK ministers resign, forcing Sunak into Cabinet reshuffle

Poland, Ukraine bag EURO 2024 tickets

Azerbaijan relocates 35 more families to Fuzuli city VIDEO

Speaker of Azerbaijan's Parliament meets with ICESCO Director General

Attack on Turkish nationals in Belgium demonstrates PKK terror threat to Western Europe: Türkiye

Moldovan delegation addresses appeal to PACE regarding Azerbaijan

AI plays key role in protecting Australia's giant kelp forests

ANAMA: 462.1 hectares of territory cleared of mines and UXOs over past week

Moscow court arrests eighth suspect in Crocus City Hall terrorist attack case

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry: Another stronghold of Armenians found in Karabakh region

Global Times newspaper hails Azerbaijan-China relations as "Gold standard friendship"

Over 1.6M competitors applied to technology contests at Türkiye's TEKNOFEST

Western Azerbaijan Community strongly condemns Tovio Klaar's anti-Azerbaijani stance and approach violating media freedom

Boeing CEO to step down in management shake-up as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker

Geneva hosts 3rd Conference of Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network

To His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Shahabuddin, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Death toll in Moscow terror attack rises to 139: Russia

Azerbaijan draw 1-1 with Bulgaria in FIFA Series 2024

Turkish foreign minister, NATO chief discuss forthcoming meeting, regional developments

Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament meets with Serbian counterpart

Azerbaijani female gymnast qualifies for Paris 2024 Olympics

EU investigates Apple, Meta and Google owner Alphabet under new tech law

Azerbaijan to face Bulgaria in FIFA Series 2024

State Security Service conducts an operation: a person planning acts of terror arrested in Azerbaijan

Ecuador's youngest mayor found shot to death alongside staffer

® Former President of Croatia Ivo Josipoviс holds meeting with staff of My Azerbaijan International Magazine

Azerbaijani aerobic gymnasts win silver medal at Cantanhede tournament

Azerbaijani shooters secure gold medal at international tournament in Germany

Speaker of Milli Majlis addresses 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Release of the Press Service of the President

Earthquake of magnitude 6.7 strikes Papua New Guinea, GFZ says

King of Sweden honours ABBA members with Order of Vasa for outstanding achievements in music

Switched at birth at a Manitoba hospital over 60 years ago, 2 men seek answers, compensation from province

5 dead in chemical factory fire in western India

Azerbaijani shooter gains second gold medal at international tournament in Germany

Speaker of Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova chairs Asian Parliamentary Assembly Co-ordinating Meeting

Argentine President: I will continue to spare no effort to strengthen our bilateral cooperation and economic relations in areas of mutual interest