MOMINE KHATUN TOMB – the huge monument of Azerbaijan national architecture, one of the Oriental pearls Mumine Khatun tomb was built (architect Ajami Nakhchivani son of Abubakr) in 1186 in the western part of Nakhchivan. The founder of the Azerbaijani state of Eldenizler, Shamsaddin Eldeniz decided to built tomb on the grave of his wife Mumine Khatun, and his son Muhammed Jahan Pahlavan finished the construction work in Muharrem (month) in hijri 582 (the beginning of Moslem era from the 16th of June 622, thats). The local people also call it Atabeyler monument. On the head of the monument, the following words are written: We are going, and only wind is left. We die, and only the work is kept.
The total height of the monument was 34 m, and then 8 m out of its surface cover was destroyed. The tomb consists of the surface and underground parts. The tomb part is of ten-pointed shape. According to some other researchers, the tombs of the Head of Atabeyler state- Shamsaddin Eldeniz, his wife Mumine Khatun and his son Muhammed Jahan Pahlavan are all together placed in he monument. The tombstones of those buried there were robbed away. The tomb is of original structure, and is rich in design. Arcs are made from the central column to each of the corners. The same structure of the tomb lately was used in gothic architecture in the West. The outside of the tomb is of ten-pointed shape (each point surrounded with inscriptions), but inside it is round. Inside the dome of the tomb, there four round medallions with the names of the caliphs. The corners of the Mumine Khatun tomb made of burnt brick are of protuberance form, and the surface of the tomb is worked out like hollow.
Noah’s Grave Tomb – Real name of this ancient part of Azerbaijan is Noah-Jahan. It is believed that the name of this area and city of Nakhchivan are related to Prophet Noah. But some researchers are not convinced with this thesis and urge that there is not any relation between Noah, the Big Flooding and the name of Nakhchivan city. But we cannot ignore the legend of Noah, which is described in the Koran and Bible. The historical roots of this legend are closely connected with the ancient Shumers. It is true that Shumers lived on the south eastern part of Ur in Mesopotamia, today it is a territory of Iraq. But let us not forget that in Mesopotamia there is not any place (city, village or mountain etc.) named after Noah. According to the legend when the world surface was covered by flooding water, Noah’s ark rambled on the waters for a long time and his ship touched on a mountain. Noah said: “believe me this is a mountain under the water” (“believe” in Azeri language means “inan”) and they started to call this mountain as Inan dag – Ilanlidag. Noah’s ark touched the second mountain again and Noah said: it is a heavy mountain (“heavy” in Azeri – Turkish language means “agir”). Since that time this mountain is called Agir-Agri dag. The truth is that, the name ‘Nakhchivan’ is closely associated with the prophet Noah and the Legend of World Flooding, the name of Nakhchivan has no other etymological roots.
Let us observe on what is said about the world typhoon by the world scientists: All of the world scientists have been thinking for a long time whether the legend about the world typhoon was true or not. At least the excavations carried out in Mesopotamia gave a positive answer to this question. During these excavations it became clear that on the IV century B. C. there was a big flood taking place in Mesopotamia.
YUSIF IBN KUSEYRS TOMB
YUSIF IBN KUSEYRS TOMB is one of the most ancient monuments in Nakhchivan. People call it also Atababa tomb. On the epitaph of the tomb, it was written that the tomb was built by the architect Ajami Nakhchivani son of Abubakr in 1162, and the name of the person who buried there is written on the stone as well. The ayahs (sentences) from Koran are written on the wall of the monument. The tomb consists of underground and eight-pointed surface. The underground is the tomb, and the surface is of monumental type like memorial monument. The ornaments are made of small bricks, and were fixed to the surfaces by means of cement substances.
GARABAGLAR MAUSOLEUM
Garabaghlar tomb belongs to the middle Ages, and situated in the Garabaghlar village in Sharur region. The tomb is the monument. Besides Garabaghlar tomb there are also two minarets and building pieces among them. Both of the minarets are supposed to belong to late XII- early XIII centuries. And the arc connecting these minarets belongs to XIV century. The name of Head of the Elkhani state Hulaki khans wifes name Guti khatun is written in the tombstone.
ALINJAGALA FORTRESS
Though there are a lot of fortresses situated along the Araz, the most famous among them is Alinja Fortress. Its active participation in important historic events, its unconquerability and impregnability were repeatedly mentioned in written sources and reminiscences of travelers.
Though, the Alinja Fortress rendered its service to various ruling dynasties of Azerbaijan and the Near Eastern region, it was more widely known as a residence and treasure-house of the Eldegyz I House; its security aroused the admiration of Tamerlane who was used to defeating the mightiest armies. During soviet era most of those historical heritages deliberately either destroyed or forgotten not to leave the future generation to know their history Today when you visit Alinja fortress you can see only few remaining parts of the fortress and special reservoirs and stepped tunnels for water supply.
Unlike these fortresses, the ones on the south bank of the Araz are not well- studied yet. One of them is Bazz Fortress which is located in southern Azerbaijan.
GULUSTAN TOMB
The architectural monument about the Middle Ages, near Gulustan village, Julfa region. Gulustan tomb built under the influence of Momuna khatun tomb at the beginning of 13 century is included to the tower shaped tombs group of Azerbaijan. The 12 faced body of the tomb was built of red sand stones, but its rostrum with original structure (corners cut cubic formed) was built of hewed stones. Despite of other tombs in Azerbaijan, the vault of Gulustan is situated on the overground. The rostrum consists of section pyramid outside but sylindric structure inside. The section pyramid square in plan (6.6 x 6.6 m) in outside upper part turns into proper twelve angels and twelve faced upper chamber is situated on it. Upper cover of the tomb was completely destroyed. Therefore to identify the cover’s being pyramidal or cone shaped is very difficult. The tomb surfaces have been decorated with the engraved geometric ornaments and framed with the decorative spans. Each face of the tower is completed with the spans by means of hollow corners forking. As it yes in Ajami Nakhchivani’s tombs, here also inside of the recesses was covered with neaty geometric designs. When observing the designs on the twelve faces we can easily be certain that there are only three systematically repeated geometric designs. The body part joining with bottom as well as the point of passage to the tower has been encircled with a belt of stalactite form. Joining the ornaments with other decorative elements systematically and connection give a hollow and elastic image to the monument. The space structure of Gulustan tomb is a bright example from circle to a square base, from cubic capacity to a cone base and so artistic technical solution of proportionate systems passing into one another. Since Anadolu is an area in which such tombs have spread widely we can consider Gulustan tomb as a key indicator for Azerbaijan and Anadolu Saljug tombs family unity. For the systematism between architecture forms, for the neatiness of size and designs the Gulustan tomb has got advantages compared with these stone tombs.