Magok-i-Attari Mosque, Islamic mosque in Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
The Magok-i-Attari Mosque is a prayer house in Bukhara set below the current ground level, with a facade that displays elaborate decoration. Brick and terracotta tile surfaces show carefully arranged geometric patterns combined with plant motifs throughout.
A temple dedicated to a pre-Islamic deity once stood at this location before a mosque was later built on top of it. Excavations uncovered that this transformation happened during the early centuries of Islamic expansion in the region.
The building demonstrates how different beliefs occupied the same sacred ground across centuries, each leaving traces in the architecture. Visitors can see how communities reshaped a spiritual center to reflect their own faith and values.
The site now functions as a museum displaying traditional carpets, allowing visitors to walk through the interior at their own pace. Be aware that you will need to descend stairs to enter since the structure sits well below the surrounding street level.
The structure sits about 4 meters below the current street level as a result of urban growth over many centuries. Its name comes from the local word meaning pit or depression, directly reflecting its sunken position below the city.
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