Mihrab of the Stary Krym Mosque Associated with Khan Uzbek

Abstract

The mihrab is found inside a mosque of late 15th — early 16th centuries. A dedicatory prescription on its portal contains the names of Uzbek, a Golden Horde Khan, and someone named Abdul-Aziz ibn Ibrahim al-Arbeli, and the date — 714 year of Hijra. The mihrab is a spolia and used to belong to another, yet unidentified structure of 14th century. Based on its physical studying and comparing it with iconographic sources and observations of other researchers, we can assert that the structure fully maintained its original aspect, in spite of its relocation and installation in a new place. The mihrab is a monumental stone structure made of carefully processed blocks of limestone. It is a two-part stalactitical niche with a rectangular frame, sunk into a quarry stone wall. This frame was decorated with exquisite incised ornament, Quranic texts and three figured knobs. Currently, the mihrab is largely distorted by some improvements. The key objective of this research is to provide a systemic historiographic information about this structure and introduce for discussion the proceedings of its studies before the restoration, for various reasons unnoticed by the specialists.