Konya Ark
Konya Ark ( German Old Fortress ) is the citadel in the historic old town of Chiwas Ichan Qalʼа and an outstanding part of the UNESCO World Heritage .
Building
Konya Ark is located on the western outer wall of the old town Ichan Qalʼа . The fortress has a size of about 1.2 hectares . It was built in the 17th century by Khan Muhammad Erenke ( reigned 1687 to 1688) when the establishment of a state administrative center for the Khiva Khanate appeared necessary. Over the centuries the fortress was expanded. After about 100 years, Konya Ark was considered a "city within a city". The citadel housed the Khan's Mosque , Residence , Supreme Court , Kurnysh Khan Reception Area, Powder Mill , Arsenal , Mint , Chancellery , Harem , Kitchen, Horse Stables and Main Guard .
Kurnysh Khan
Konya Ark can be accessed from Ichan Qalʼа Old City through a fortress gate. This is flanked by two towers, the tops of which are decorated with striking blue tiles . Behind the gate is another courtyard with Kurnysh Khan on the west side. The first Kurnysh Khan was destroyed during a Persian invasion in the mid-18th century. The rebuilding or reconstruction took place during the reign of Khan Iltuzar (reign 1804 to 1806). It is a multi-room palace . In the northern part is the reception courtyard with a yurt for the khan, in which the ruler was enthroned during his receptions in summer. The southern courtyard is one of Ivan with eye-catching blue and white majolica completed disguised. Two wooden pillars on stone bases support the roof of the Ivan. Poems by the poet and historian Agahi were carved into one of the bases . The throne room can be reached from the Ivan through an ornamented door . The walls of the throne room are decorated with stucco work and multi-colored paintings. In the south wall there is a wall niche for the throne. The original throne was created in 1816 with is covered with fine silver leaf . It was in 1873 after the capture by the Tsarist Russian Empire after Moscow spent, where he worked in the armory of the Kremlin is kept. A replica of the original can be found in Konya Ark . The state treasure and valuable manuscripts were kept in the western part of Kurnysh Khan .
Postcard Sheikh Bobo, mosque, mint, harem and living area
To the northwest of Kurnysh Khan are the Khan's Mosque, Mint, Harem, and Ak Sheikh Bobo Tower. The latter is the highest point of Konya Ark. Among other things, it was used as a watchtower. The mint is located opposite the entrance in the northern area of the fortress. It was set up in the reign of Khan Muhammad Rahim I (1806 to 1825), who carried out a tax reform and created customs offices . In the area of the mint, gold , silver and copper coins were minted with over one hundred coin dies . More than 300 of the coins minted in Khiva are kept in the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg .
The mint is adjacent to the Khan's mosque, which was built under Khan Alla Kuli (reigned 1825 to 1842). It is divided into a spatially closed winter mosque and a summer mosque open to the courtyard. The summer mosque is an ivan with two rows of wooden columns on stone bases. The walls, the mihrab , the minbar and the side turrets are lined with majolica depicting intricate plant patterns. The ceramic works come from the artists Usto Abulla Ibadulla and Abdullah . The latter was nicknamed Djinn because of his skill .
Further inside Konya Ark at the foot of Ak Sheikh Bobo are the living quarters of the Khans Chiwas and the rooms of the harem. This is the latest part of the citadel and was built under Said Muhammad Rahim II , who ruled from 1863 to 1910.
literature
- Alexey Arapov: The Historical Monuments of Uzbekistan . Tashkent Samarkand Bukhara Chiva Shahrisabz. SMI-ASIA, Tashkent 2016, ISBN 978-9943-17-075-9 , Chiva, p. 96 to 99 .
Coordinates: 41 ° 22 ′ 45.3 " N , 60 ° 21 ′ 28.5" E