Musalla Minarets of Herat

Musalla Minarets of Herat
Three of the Herat Minarets as seen on 2005.
Herat
Location in Afghanistan
Alternative name Musallah Minarets, Herat Minarets, Herat Monuments
Location Herat, Afghanistan
Region Herat Province
Coordinates Coordinates: 34°21′33″N 62°11′10″E / 34.359284°N 62.18608°E / 34.359284; 62.18608
Type Minaret
Part of Musalla Complex
Height 55 m (180 ft)
History
Builder Queen Goharshad of Timurid Empire of Herāt.
Founded 1417
Abandoned 1885
Cultures Islamic
Events 1885, Destruction of Musalla Complex.
Site notes
Condition 5 Ruined towers, Endangered
Public access Yes

Musalla Minarets of Herat[1][2] (Monuments Of Herat[3]) are five huge ruined minaret towers in Herat city, western Afghanistan.[4] The minarets are each 55 meters tall and resemble crooked chimneys of an old factory.[3] The minarets of Herat are the remains of 20 minarets of the former Musalla complex. The minarets and the complex were built by Queen Gawhar Shad in 1417.[3]

The Musallah complex with 20 minarets was fully intact and looked magnificent until 1885 when the complex was destroyed by the British in a conflict with Russia.[4][5] 9 towers were spared the destruction of 1885, but neglect and earthquakes claimed four more towers.[3]

History

Musalla Minarets of Herat were built for the Musalla complex by Queen Gawhar Shad in 1417.[3] The complex became an architectural masterpiece of the Islamic world. It was a huge spread of magnificent Islamic religious buildings consisting of a large mosque, Madrassa religious school and mausoleum buildings. The whole complex included 20 minarets which were adorned with tiled surfaces of beautiful intricate patterns and designs.[4][3]

In 1885, the British were in Afghanistan engaged in a conflict against Russia for the control of the borders. During the conflict, British engineers dynamited the Musalla complex to prevent it from serving as cover for Russians.[4][5] Nine minarets and two mausoleums were spared destruction.

An earthquake in 1931 destroyed two more minarets. Another minaret fell for an another earthquake in 1951.[3]

The five ruined Musalla Minarets of Herat and 2 mausoleums are the only remnants today of a once magnificent architectural complex.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Historical Minarets of Herat". alalam.ir. Alalam News Network. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  2. ↑ "Afghanistan: Race To Preserve Historic Minarets Of Herat, Jam". rferl.org. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Monuments Of Herat, Afghanistan's Ancient Cultural Capital, In Danger Of Destruction". rferl.org. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "7 must-see minarets in Central Asia". caravanistan.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 "The sad story of the Musalla Complex: art crime and destruction". squarekufic.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
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