Ulugh beg madrasa
The Ulugh Beg Madrasa is a madrasa in the historic center of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan. Together with other monuments, it forms the monumental ensemble of Registan, the old heart of the city. It was built between 1417 and 1421 by the then-Timurid governor of Samarkand, Ulugh Beg, Timur’s grandson and prominent astronomer, who was later emperor. The building has a rectangular plan, with a minaret at each of the four angles. Each side consists of blocks with two floors, which surround an inner courtyard. The entrance is made by three successive iwans. The inner courtyard, measuring 30 by 40 meters, is surrounded by a gallery of two floors, with entrances to the fifty hujras (student housing cells).
All exterior surfaces are covered by a variegated decorative scheme, executed using hazarbaf, azulejos, hafts, faience, mosaics, and maiolica. Wainscoting and frames are made of marble. The decorative motifs are mainly geometric girih patterns, but there are also floral motifs and inscriptions in kufic. The yellow-brown base helps to highlight the green, yellow, turquoise, and light and dark blue glazes. In the pishtaq of the main entrance, a panoply of blue stars in the decoration demonstrates Ulugh Beg’s passion for astronomy.
- Ulugh beg madrasa
- Location: Samarkand
- Country: Uzbekistan
- Built : 1417 AD
