The Three Mosques Of Baku

The Islamic heritage of Azerbaijan that was suppressed during the Soviet era has

had a fresh resurgence of vitality in relation to the arts, media, and culture since 1992. Declared the "Islamic Capital of Culture for the Asian Region for 2009," Baku is a centre of some of the finest examples of Islamic art and architecture. If you find yourself in Baku, be sure and make visits to some of the splendid Mosques. To find them, inquire with the local tourist agency or even try one of the many Baku hotels, which often offer a wealth of information for anything you may want to find.

The first mosque to visit is the oldest, built between 1078 and 1079. Called the "Muhammed Mosque" it is part of the old town in Baku, inside an enclosed area called Icheri-Shehr which is perched on a hillside looking over the neighbourhood. It is also the oldest Muslim monument in the whole country.

The Taza Pir Mosque, while much newer, is still significant as it is replete with fine artwork and other design elements. Built to honor a philanthropist, construction of the mosque ran from 1905 to 1914. However, three years after completion it was closed as a result of the October Revolution which saw many religious institutions in the country shut down. It reopened in 1943 and has functioned as a mosque since.

The Bibi-Heybat Mosque was only built in the 1990s though it replicates a mosque of the same name that was built in the 13th century. This original mosque was destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936. A short while later Moscow regretted the destruction and so exiled the person deemed responsible to Siberia.

Today, the mosques of Baku present the visitor with a fascinating and stimulating cultural, social, and religious history of the country. The mosques have a sort of omnipresence in Baku. Even from the balcony of your hotel Baku and its mosques can still be experienced. You can see the minarets and you can hear the call to prayer drifting in on the breeze.

by: Peter Mosby

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