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The Map of the Monuments
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1. The Maiden Tower
Gyz-Galasy – the Maiden Tower is the greatest and the most mysterious architectural
monument of Baku. Neither the exact date of the construction of the tower, nor
its exact purpose has become known so far.
2. Baba Kuhi Bakuvi’s Mosque
The mosque was discovered in 1964 during the excavations near the Maiden Tower and
dates back to the 10th century. The excavations were ceased to be
continued only in 2000. At present the mosque is being restored.
3. Multani Caravanserai
Multani Caravanserai dates back to the 15th century. The name was derived
from the locality in India from where merchants and pilgrims came to Baku.
Restored in 1970s the caravanserai is used as a restaurant.
4. Bukhara Caravanserai
Bukhara Caravanserai dates back to the 14th century. Merchants from Middle
East used to put up here, hence the name of the caravanserai. At present there
is a restaurant here.
5. Bazaar Square.
Trees grew in this area. In 1964 an arcade of a market was discovered
while digging the foundation pit for a restaurant. The square closed the mosque
of the 17th century, which was turned into a church by the Russians,
and was pulled down in the Soviet period.
The fragments found
during the excavations, as well as those belonging to the Sabail Castle and
those lifted from the bottom of the sea are displayed in this square.
6. Haji Gayib’s Bathhouse
Haji Gayib’s Bathhouse or Haji Bathhouse was built on the boundaries of the 15th-17th
centuries. At present the bathhouse is below the marks of the street in
consequence of century-old piled up ground.
7. Cell-madrasa
A small mosque – madrasa (a religious school) dates back to the 18th
century. At present a curiosity shop is located here.
8. Mosque-madrasa
A small mosque – madrasa (a religious school) was built in 1301. At present a
curiosity shop is located here.
9. Gasim bay’s Caravanserai
A two-storey caravanserai was built in the 15th century and was given to
a citizen of Baku - Gasim bay and his
heir for use by Shirvanshah Khalilullah I. At present Mugham Theatre and a
restaurant are located here.
10. The Lezghi mosque
Inside the mosque there is an inscription with a date of 1169 (the year 567 of Hijri)
and with the name of the master’s - Ustad Ashur’s son - Ibrahim Bakuyi’s
descriptive carving. The mosque got its name on the boundaries of 19th-20th
centuries when the workers from Daghestan arrived in Baku to earn their living
and the inhabitants presented this mosque to them for divine services.
11. The portal of a dwelling house
The Portal of a dwelling house dates back to the 17th-18th
centuries.
12. Khan’s caravanserai
Khan’s or Great Caravanserai dates back to the 15th century.
13. Juma Mosque
The public Juma Mosque was constructed by the money of Haji Shykhali Dadashov, a
rich man of Baku. It was erected in the place of the old Juma Mosque which, as
it is believed, appeared in the place of the temple of fire-worshippers. The
new mosque adjoins a minaret erected in 1427.
14. Cell-madrasa
A small cell where a mosque –madrasa was located (a religious school) was
constructed in 1645-47. At present there is a curiosity shop here.
15. Seyid Yahya Murtuza’s Mosque
Seyid Yahya Murtuza’s Mosque dates back to the 17th century. In 1920s it
was covered with occasional one-storey buildings on all sides. In 1980s during
the reconstruction of the adjacent square the building was freed from the
extensions being given its primal view.
16. Mahammad Mosque
Mahammad Ibn Abu-Bakr’s Mosque, known among people as Synyk-gala is a monument dating
back to rather an earlier period in the old Baku fortress. There is an
inscription on the wall of the mosque. “In the name of Allah Gracious and
Merciful! The construction of the building of the mosque was ordered by Ustad,
Superior Mahammad, son of Abu-Bakr in the years of 1078/79.
17. Sheikh Ibrahim's Mosque
The rectangular mosque is covered with a stone vault of lancet contours. According
to the epigraphic inscription on the façade, the mosque was constructed in
1415/16 (818 of Hijri) under “the Soltan, the son of Sheikh Ibrahim”. The
mosque was built by the order of Haji Amir Shah Yagub.
18. Aga Mikayil’s Bathhouse
Aga Mikayil’s Bathhouse was constructed in the 19th century by a
Shamakhy citizen Aga Mikayil. The chimney was built in the form of a rocket.
The bath has been functioning ever since.
19. Gileyli Mosque
On the wall of the mosque there is an inscription: “Honoured sadr Amin ad-Din, son
of Abu-Bakr ordered to restore this mosque to contemplate the divine image and
to please Him. May God help him in his benevolent work. The date is 708 of
Hijri (1308/09). The inscription informs about the restoration of the mosque,
which was most likely constructed in the earlier period.
20. Chinese Mosque
Epigraphic inscriptions on the façade of the Chinese Mosque indicate that it was
constructed in 1375 (in the year 777 of Hijri) by the will of Fadlallah Imam
Osman ibn Shirvan, therefore sometimes the mosque is named after him. The
inscription on the wall also says that the mosque was restored in 1772/73
(1186 of Hijri) by Masud Ali.
21. The Shirvanshahs’ Palace
The construction of the Shirvan shahs’ residence was started in the 15th
century under Shah Khalilullah I. The palace complex includes the palace
itself, Divankhana, a burial vault, a mosque, a mausoleum and a bath-house.
22. Beylar Mosque
Beylar Mosque was built in 1895 in the place of an old mosque. At present a
restoration centre is located here.
23. Haji Bani Mosque
The Mosque was constructed by Haji Bani, an architect in the 16th
century. The epigraphic inscription says that the mosque was repaired in
1902/03. At the same time a vestibule part and the women’s half (shabistan)
were added.
24. Haji Heibat Mosque
The mosque was erected by Haji Heibat Amirali oglu in 1791 (1206) and is located in
an ordinary construction of living quarters. In one of the corners of the
chapel were buried the architect and his wife.
25. Tower
A quadrangular tower was called Jabbakhana – an arsenal. It is situated at the
north-western fortress wall and adjoins Ismailliya building. The tower was
included in the system of the defence constructions of the fortress, defending
the city on the north side. It dates back to the 14th century. It
was last restored in 1950-60s.
26. Shamakhy Gates
Shamakhy Gates were the main gates of the fortress. They appeared in the
12th century. The gates situated to the left appeared next to the
first ones in the 19th century when the second row of the walls were
pulled down.
27. Molla Ahmad Mosque
Molla Ahmad Mosque belongs to the block type of mosques and was constructed in
1300/01 (700 of Hijri). It was built by the order of Nasraddin Gushtasp ibn
Hasan Hajibaba, its architect was Ustad Mahmud ibn Sad, the author of the
well-known constructions including the castle in the settlement of Nardaran and
the mosque with a minaret in the settlement of Bibi-Heibat (the end of the 13th
century).
28. Mirza Ahmad’s Mosque
Mirza Ahmad’s Mosque dates back to 1347/48. From the inscription on the mosque: “the
construction of this mosque was ordered by the star of the people and religion
Movlana /our lord/ Ahmad son of the late Shams ad-Din Mahammad al-Hafiz
ad-Damgani – Long live his dignity and fame! - in the year of 748
of the Hijri calendar.”
29. Khan’s House
Khan’s House consisted of three buildings and was constructed in 1747. After the
occupation of Baku khanate by the Russians in 1806, the house was looted and
came to be used as a soldiers’ barrack. At present the only surviving parts of
the Khan’s House are the entrance and the foundation. The excavations carried
out there enable to suggest that this place was populated in the 9-10th
centuries.
30. The underground passage
The underground passage within the fortress walls was discovered
relatively recently.
31. Gasim Bay’s Bathhouse
Gasim Bay’s Bathhouse or Shirin-hamam dates
back to the 17th century. The water supply, the heating system of
the bathhouse were carried out through ceramic pipes set inside the walls and
beneath the floor. The bathhouse was restored in the 1970s and adjusted to a
Green Drugstore.