Palace of Sultan Mas'ud III, Royal palace from Ghaznavid period in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
The Palace of Sultan Mas'ud III is a Ghaznavid-era ruin located northeast of Ghazni city. The structure displays marble walls, terracotta decorations, and stucco work arranged around a central courtyard, all showing the medieval Persian architectural style of the period.
The palace was built in 1112 during the reign of Sultan Mas'ud III, who ruled the Ghaznavid Empire from 1099 to 1115. This royal residence served as a center of power during an important period of medieval Asian history.
The inscriptions in Persian and Arabic visible on the marble walls throughout the ruins show that the Ghaznavid court was multilingual and cosmopolitan. Visitors can still see how different languages mixed in daily life at this royal residence.
The ruins are located near the Kabul-Kandahar road and are relatively easy to find despite being outside the city center. Visitors should prepare for uneven ground and wear sturdy footwear, as the foundation walls and courtyard areas are partly covered or irregular.
A marble arch within the complex bears the name of Sultan Mas'ud III, and nearby stands a small cemetery with the domed shrine of Ibrahim of Ghazna. This combination of royal and sacred spaces shows how palaces and holy sites coexisted in this era.
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