Pages: 509-558

This article represents the first full publication of the materials from restoration works (1984—1985) at one of the famous cult Muslim buildings of Medieval Crimea. An inscription above its door way states that the construction was made by Abdul-Asis, son of Ibrahim al-Arbeli, during the reign of khan Uzbek in 714 anno Hegirae (= 1314 AD). The field survey of the monument allowed the author to specify its chronology and architectonics, as well as to get an idea about some of its completely or partly lost architectural and construction details. Three building periods were distinguished: second half of 15th century, 1512—1513 and late 19th — early 20th century. The research has shown, that the mosque, despite of some Ottoman elements, was still influenced by Seljuk building traditions, involving reuse of some architectural and construction details from some earlier Golden Horde buildings, including the previous mosque of Uzbek from 1314, whose location is still unknown. The architectonics of the building clearly illustrates the beginning of a new stage in Muslim cult construction of Medieval Crimea and makes the so called Uzbek mosque a unique building of the transitional period between two architectural styles.

Keywords: Stary Krym, Mosque of Uzbek, Medieval architecture, Seljuk style, Ottoman style

Information about author:

Vladimir Kirilko (Simferopol, Crimea). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Crimea Branch of the Archaeology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Yaltinskaya St., 2, Simferopol, 295007, Crimea
E-mail: [email protected]