Monument to Nizami Ganjavi in Baku, Bronze sculpture in Nizami Square, Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Monument to Nizami Ganjavi is a bronze statue set on an octagonal pedestal of red Labrador stone, located on Nizami Square in the center of Baku, Azerbaijan. The statue sits high above street level, making it visible from the surrounding roads that converge at the square.
The monument was inaugurated in April 1949, created by sculptor Fuad Abdurahmanov, with the pedestal and surrounding space designed by architects Sadig Dadashov and Mikayil Useynov. It was built during the Soviet era as a public tribute to the Persian poet born in the Ganja region in the 12th century.
Eight bronze panels around the base show scenes from the poet's most celebrated works, including episodes from the "Khamsa" epic cycle. Walking around the pedestal gives a close view of each scene.
The monument stands at a central junction where several main streets meet, making it easy to reach on foot from many parts of the city center. The open plaza around the pedestal is freely accessible at any time and gives space to view the monument from different angles.
The octagonal shape of the pedestal is not a random choice: the number eight carries symbolic meaning in Islamic architecture and poetry, and appears in classical buildings across the region. This detail connects the form of the monument to the cultural world in which the poet lived and wrote.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
