Oldest mosque in Bukhara, a photo from Bukhara, West

Photographer's Note

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This simple and less decorated building is the oldest surviving mosque in Bukhara – a 10th century one – Magoki Attori. At one stage sands half buried the mosque and you can see retaining walls as it now sits well below the level of the surrounding area. Unfortunately today it is a less than exciting carpet museum.
It pre-dates the decoration of mosques with ceramic tiles referred to by many people as the "Persian" style. The so-called Persian style actually originated in what became Uzbekistan during the reign of Timur (also known as Tamerlane), a warlord of Turco-Mongol lineage, who established the empire between 1370 and his death in 1405, and then spread to other nearby countries which had been part of his empire.
Unusually for us we were actually in a tour group which brings me to another reason for why the easiest way from Australia to Uzbekistan is Via South Korea. Our guide in Bukhara was of Korean/Russian background. If you look at a map of Asia you'll see that North Korea borders onto Russia and the area of Russia north of the border used to be inhabited by Koreans but under the "guise" of national security Stalin moved the Korean population to Central Asia resulting in Uzbekistan having a significant Korean minority hence the flight links between Tashkent and Seoul.

jemaflor, ChrisJ, Fis2, ikeharel, pierrefonds, jhm, PaulVDV, adramad, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

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pajaran (115047) 2021-12-28 21:49

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan dobar tekst ...
Lepa stara arhitektura i detalji, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama i kontartsom.
Dobar rad, lepa fotografija.
Lepa Dzamija.

Zelim vam sve najbolje.
Paja

jemaflor (146412) 2021-12-28 22:55

Hi Ian,
interesting architecture well photographed, perfect angle, sharpness and light, well done and tfs.

ChrisJ (171366) 2021-12-28 23:00

Hi Ian,

Good colour, sharpness and framing. This old mosque exudes character. The minarets and cupolas add symmetry. Tfs!

Silvio1953 (220759) 2021-12-28 23:41

Ciao Ian, great view of fantastic mosque, splendid sharpness, wonderful colors, beautiful light and fine details, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Fis2 (169877) 2021-12-29 0:31

Witaj Lan!
A very interesting building, beautiful architecture.
Good framing, colors and light.
I like walls and domes.
Well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

Gerrit (62042) 2021-12-29 1:37

Hello Ian.
No shining stones but a building of simple beauty, Very impressive.
thanks and regards,
Gerrit

holmertz (102096) 2021-12-29 2:10

Hello Ian,
The museum inside may not have been interesting, but the façade is very beautiful even without any shining tiles. The larger version reveals some fantastic decorations, improved by the good sidelight.
Best regards,
Gert

lousat (138695) 2021-12-29 4:05

Hi Ian,i remember well this mosque too, built under the ground level and the most old of the city, very well preserved in its unique style,perfect capture as usual. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

ikeharel (112549) 2021-12-29 4:31

Neat picture of the ancient mosque, ian.
Each stone shown under bright daylight and superb clarity.
A humble monument in the know jewl-city of Bukhara.
Good evening,
Ike

pierrefonds (113700) 2021-12-29 4:40

Hi Ian,

The branches are helping to frame the scene. The point of view is shpowing the details of the Mosque. The light is bringing out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

jhm (211734) 2021-12-29 5:36

Hello Ian,

We get a fantastic picture with the entrance of the oldest Mosque
Excellent composition, nice of colour and sharpness.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John

LondonBoy (2368) 2021-12-29 10:25

Hi Ian,

Love the sharpeness and balance of colours. TFS, Alex

jmdias (114384) 2021-12-29 10:32

ian

a special design of this rustic architecture, we have a nice idea of it in this image. TFS.
happy 2022

JOrge

kasianowak (17672) 2021-12-29 11:56

Hi Ian
A beautiful building photographed in pleasant light. When I visited Uzbekistan, I sometimes thought it was refreshing to see mosques without tiles sometimes. :-)
Interesting history of Korean minority in Uzbekistan.
Best wishes
Kasia

emka (157280) 2021-12-30 0:03

Hello Ian,
I remember well this oldest mosque in Bukhara. It is not so decorated with colourful tiles but beautiful.
Strange that I posted only four photos (plus Workshops) and I liked Bukhara so much! Maybe somewhen I will show more.
Best regards

MAlgo

PaulVDV (62810) 2021-12-30 11:24

Hello Ian,
Even without being completely covered with blue tiles or mosaics, this is a beautiful mosque.
I once heard that there are Koreans living in Uzbekistan, but I did not receive the explanation that you tell here in your note. What a distant move for these people and that to a part of the former Soviet Union that looked very little like the homeland.
Best regards, Paul

adramad (72600) 2021-12-30 11:34

Hello Ian.
Perfect POV that shows us a total and wonderful view of this ancient and beautiful mosque.
A great composition, colors, splendid lighting and sharpness.
Very well done, I like it
All the best for you.
Luis.

mcmtanyel (67789) 2022-01-20 19:26

Hello Ian,
It is an impressive edifice, I wonder how these Özbek mosques look inside.
Regards,
MT