The Masoleums of Majar in 18th-Century Descriptions and Drawings

The Masoleums of Majar in 18th-Century Descriptions and Drawings

E.D. Zilivinskaya and D.V. Vasiliev.

The article focuses on the buildings of Majar, the largest Golden Horde city in the North Caucasus. Many of these buildings, mostly mausoleums, survived until the end of the 18th century. The main source for studying the mausoleums of Majar are the drawings and descriptions made by explorers and travelers such as J.-G. Gaerber, by members of the V.N. Tatischev expedition as well as by S.G. Gmelin, J.A. Guldenstadt, P.S. Pallas, J.N. Potocki, and K.E. von Baer. Excavations conducted in the 20th century yielded less signifi cant results. A detailed analysis of all available sources reveals the variety of planning and architectural forms expressed in the Majar mausoleums, which are similar to the religious architectural monuments of Iran, Western Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Asia Minor.

Keywords: Majar; Golden Horde, North Caucasus, mausoleums, Iran, Western Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Asia Minor.