Mammadbayli Mausoleum, Medieval mausoleum in Məmmədbəyli village, Azerbaijan.
Mammadbayli Mausoleum is an octagonal stone structure in a village in Zangilan, with walls covered in sharpened stones arranged in a distinctive pattern. The roof above takes a pyramid shape and measures roughly 3 meters on each side at its base.
The structure was built in 1305, during a period when the region was an important stop on the Silk Road trade routes. A sepulcher was discovered during excavations in 1975, confirming its original purpose as a burial site.
The entrance displays Arabic inscriptions from the Quran and names Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Haj as the person this religious monument was built for. These texts were meant to honor the deceased and guide prayers from those who visited.
The entrance is quite low and narrow, requiring visitors to bend down to enter, which was part of the original design based on Islamic guidelines. It helps to move slowly and carefully, especially if you are tall or have difficulty with physical movement.
The building features both spherical interior arches and pyramidal exterior arches, a rare combination seen in regional architecture from that era. This technical detail reveals skilled construction methods from the early 14th century.
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