Skip to main content

Epigraphic inscription of Shirvanshahs`


Photo credit: S. Mikayilova

 Covering north and north-east regions of Azerbaijan territory Shirvanshahs` state was one of the long-lasting states in the history of Azerbaijani. Shamakhi, Baku, Shabran, Bandovan, Darband were the biggest cities and cultural centers of Shirvanshahs` state. Shamakhi was the first capital of the state, after the earthquake happened in 1192 they moved the capital to Baku. But Shamakhi was keeping its cultural dominance during the ages.
During the archaeological excavations held in the cities of Shirvanshahs were found many artifacts showing us the life in the Medieval Ages in Azerbaijan. We can observe daily, agricultural, religious life, also craftsmanship with the help of archaeological finds. Craftsmen making handicrafts sometimes put some inscriptions on it. There are lots of epigraphic inscriptions on artifacts which are related to Shirvanshahs state.
But mostly inscriptions were written on the stones. It could be pillars, pedestals, entrances of palaces and cities, gravestones and so on. Artistic masonry movement was developed in Medieval Ages in Azerbaijan. So, craftsmen made beautiful and interesting buildings with inscriptions on it. One of this inscription was on the plate of Baku city wall. It is dating to the XII century. It was found after collapsing of one half-tower of the northern city wall of Baku. The inscription is in Arabic and was written in Kufic script. We can read: “City wall was ordered to be built by a mighty king, scientist, fair, victorious, the pride of religion and state, the stronghold of Islam and Moslems, the greater khagan, the great Shirvanshah Abulhija Manuchehr bin...”
The inscription was read by one of the famous researchers of Azerbaijan A. A. Aleskerzade and was published in 1964.

The abovementioned stone with its inscription is kept and exhibited in the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shah Tahmasib Safevid

Shah Tahmasib Safevid, son of Shah Ismail Khatai. He ruled after his father's death. Between Shah Tahmasib and Sultan Suleyman Kanuni had battles dyring their rules. Two great turkic states and their leaders were enemies of each other. These wars made Ottomans and Safevid empires weak and in ages they slowly dissappered from the scene. 
3 comments
Read more

Azerbaijanis (according to professor Yagub Mahmudov)

AZERBAİJANİS     Azerbaijanis are the second greatest Turkic people in the world after Anatolian Turks. The Azerbaijani people are the main and the most ancient aboriginal inhabitants of the Azerbaijan Republic (North Azerbaijan) and South Azerbaijan (the north-west provinces of the Iran Islamic Republic).     Azerbaijanis belong to Oghuz branch of Turkic groups of the Altay people. They call themselves Azerbaijanis. In different stages of history they were called “Turks”, “Azerbaijani Turks” or “Caucasian Tatars”, “Azeri Tatars” as well. Azerbaijanis who live in South Azerbaijan and in other regions of Iran call themselves “Turks” up to present. They speak Azerbaijani which belong to Oghuz branch of Turkic group of Altai language family. They bare relation to the caspi (khazar) type of the white (European) race. They are Moslems. Although in the ethno-origin of Azerbaijanis mainly Kuties, Lullabies, Turuks (Turukkues), Hurries, Kimmers, Iskits ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The book with the sign of M. E. Rasulzade

Nizami Ganjavi was great Azerbaijani poet, born in Ganja city. He wrote five poems which together they are called "Khamsa", means five from arabic language. One of leader-creaters of our Republic Mahammad Emin Rasulzade wrote a book to the honor of Nizami Ganjavi. Book  is called "Azərbaycan şairi Nizami", in English means "Azerbaijani poet Nizami". The book was written for 800 years anniversary of the great poet. Book was published in 1951, in Ankara city of Turkey Republic, where M. E. Rasulzade migrated after the occupation of Azerbaijan Republic by bolshevik Russia in 1920. You can see photo of that book with the autograph of great leader M. E. Rasulzade.  The book is being exhibited in The National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. 
Post a Comment
Read more