Haji Piyada, Archaeological ruins in Balkh, Afghanistan.
Haji Piyada is a mud-brick mosque in Balkh, Afghanistan, built on a square plan with each side measuring roughly 20 meters (65 feet). The interior was originally divided into nine bays, some of which were topped by domes that have partly collapsed over the centuries.
The mosque was built in 794 by Abbasid governor Fazl ibn Yahya on the site of an older Buddhist complex. This shift reflects the deep changes the region went through in the centuries following the Islamic conquest.
The interior walls carry stucco decorations made in the early Abbasid style but executed using local craft methods. Visitors who look closely can see how regional building traditions and new religious influences came together in a single structure.
A metal roof has been installed over the building to protect it from rain and weather. The ground is uneven and parts of the structure have collapsed, so sturdy footwear and careful footing are both important.
Although the building was constructed as a mosque, it is locally known as Haji Piyada, meaning 'the pilgrim on foot', a name that likely comes from a later folk tradition. International archaeological teams are still working on site today to document and stabilize the masonry.
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