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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton walks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Presidential Residence in Zagulba, Azerbaijan, on July 4, 2010. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Entrance of a mausoleum.
Eddi Gumbez (15 th century) mausoleum and graveyard in Shamakhi (Azerbaijan).
At the foot of Gulistan Fortress is located Eddi Gumbez Mausoleum or “Seven Domes”. This is how people named Shamakhi tomb of Shirvan Dynasty rulers. There the notorious representatives of Shirvan Dynasty were buried. The monument's name is defined be the number of gravestones in the crypt. Today the gravestones look like half-destroyed stone domes as if grown directly from under the ground in the middle of deserted graveyard. Therefore the atmosphere of this district seems a little mysterious.
Shamakhi town is the administrative center of the district. Its population exceeds 83000. It is located 120 km from Baku.
In ancient times Shamakhi was the capital of Shirvan - the state of Shirvanshahs, which was established in the 18th century along with other smaller states after weakening of the dynasty of Abbasids. The town has a glorious but tragic history - it has been devastated many times. And not only by invaders but also as a result of earthquakes since this is an area of high seismicity. When in 1191 Kizil Arslan of Atabeks Eldenisids dynasty seized and grounded the city Shirvanshah Ahsitan the 1st temporarily relocated the capital to Baku. However, in 1501 both Shamakhi and Baku were captured by Shah Ismail Sefevi. 37 years later Shirvan's existence as an independent state ceased and Tahmasib Sefevi founded the state of Sefevids. Afterwards Shamakhi was frequently destroyed in wars with Turkish Ottomans. Not only people were killed, architectural monuments and books were also destroyed.
Gravestones.
Eddi Gumbez (15 th century) mausoleum and graveyard in Shamakhi (Azerbaijan).
At the foot of Gulistan Fortress is located Eddi Gumbez Mausoleum or “Seven Domes”. This is how people named Shamakhi tomb of Shirvan Dynasty rulers. There the notorious representatives of Shirvan Dynasty were buried. The monument's name is defined be the number of gravestones in the crypt. Today the gravestones look like half-destroyed stone domes as if grown directly from under the ground in the middle of deserted graveyard. Therefore the atmosphere of this district seems a little mysterious.
Shamakhi town is the administrative center of the district. Its population exceeds 83000. It is located 120 km from Baku.
In ancient times Shamakhi was the capital of Shirvan - the state of Shirvanshahs, which was established in the 18th century along with other smaller states after weakening of the dynasty of Abbasids. The town has a glorious but tragic history - it has been devastated many times. And not only by invaders but also as a result of earthquakes since this is an area of high seismicity. When in 1191 Kizil Arslan of Atabeks Eldenisids dynasty seized and grounded the city Shirvanshah Ahsitan the 1st temporarily relocated the capital to Baku. However, in 1501 both Shamakhi and Baku were captured by Shah Ismail Sefevi. 37 years later Shirvan's existence as an independent state ceased and Tahmasib Sefevi founded the state of Sefevids. Afterwards Shamakhi was frequently destroyed in wars with Turkish Ottomans. Not only people were killed, architectural monuments and books were also destroyed.
Yanar Dag (Azerbaijan).
One of the magical places of interest of the Apsheron Peninsula is “Yanar Dag (Burning Hill)” where the flame comes out of the foot of the hill naturally without any human interference. It is always burning and never extinguishes.
The Carpet Museum in Baku (Azerbaijan).
The Carpet Museum is now housed in what used to be the Lenin Museum.
Lenin, the founder of the Soviet system, believed material wealth should be shared - not accumulated in the hands of a privileged few. A generation ago, it would have been inconceivable that the museum honoring his memory would eventually be transformed into an Azerbaijani repository of material items representing wealth. The collection, compiled by the National Carpet Museum, celebrates the treasures of Azerbaijani craftsmanship. Exhibited items include primarily carpets, but jewelry and copper vessels are also on display.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is greeted by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov upon her arrival in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 6, 2012. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 17: Paul Engel and Antje Nowak of Germany compete in the Gymnastics Aerobic Mixed Pairs Qualification during day five of the Baku 2015 European Games at the National Gymnastics Arena on June 17, 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images for BEGOC)
Government House in Baku (Azerbaijan).
Baku.
The first written reference to Baku dates from 885, although archaeologists have found remains of a settlement predating by several centuries the birth of Jesus. The city became important after an earthquake destroyed Shemakha and the of the 12th century and the Shirvanshah, Ahistan I, made Baku the new capital. In 1813 Russia signed the Treaty of Gulistan with Persia by which Baku and most of the Caucasus region were annexed from Iran and transferred to Russia.
There are a few theories about the origin of the name, the most widely known being that Baku comes from the Persian word Bagh-Kuh (the Mount of God). The Name of Baku is also popularly explained as coming from the Persian word "bad kube", meaning "city of winds".
Between 19 and 22 August 2016, 15 young Azerbaijanis took part in the first edition of the 'EuroSchool' in Gabala, Azerbaijan to discuss the European Union, its history, values and the opportunities it offers to young people. The event was co-organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan and the 'EU Neighbours east' project in the framework of the 'Young European Neighbours' network. Watch the YouTube video to learn more: goo.gl/buO2b2
Ornamental designs found on the buildings of the Shirvanshah Palace.
The Shirvanshahs ruled the state of Shirvan in northern Azerbaijan from the 6th to the 16th centuries. Their attention first shifted to Baku in the 12th century, when Shirvanshah Manuchehr III ordered that the city be surrounded with walls. In 1191, after a devastating earthquake destroyed the capital city of Shamakhi, the residence of the Shirvanshahs was moved to Baku, and the foundation of the Shirvanshah complex was laid. This complex, built on the highest point of Ichari Shahar, remains as one of the most striking monuments of medieval Azerbaijani architecture.
Wedding coffers.
Local market in Sheki (Azerbaijan).
Sheki.
Situated 700m above sea level, like an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains and forests of oak trees, Sheki rises above fertile yaylags (pastures) and fields. The area is very picturesque, with narrow gorges and green valleys, springs, water falls and mineral water springs framed by dense woods and alpine meadows. In the town, you'll see old brick houses, shaded streets, weeping willow trees and canals carrying spring water. The original settlement dates back to the late bronze age. Once we enter recorded history, invaders were frequent visitors. Its name is believed to originate from the name of saks tribe that arrived in Azerbaijan in VII B.C. The city became very well known as a center of Sakasena region of Alban kingdom. When Christianity spread in the Caucasus, Sheki became one of its important centers. During the 7th century Sheki was taken by arab invaders becoming dependent on a local emirate - Sheki suffered from Arab-Khazar war for 150 years. However in the 9th century with the weakening of arab power a Christian state was re-established by the last remaining forces of the Albanian kings. It was later taken by the Shirvanshahs, the Mongols under Tamerlane and the Safavids. By the 18th century Sheki was capital of its own Khanate, only to be taken by the Russian Empire in 1805. Following the Russian revolution the Red Army eventually only took Sheki in 1920.
Sheki is long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the silk route, Sheki is still the site of a huge factory that was once the Soviet Union's largest silk plant (such a big factory was naturally named after Lenin... - now ask for the 'ipek kombinat'). In its golden period the factory employed over 7.000 (out of a population reaching almost 100.000). Nowadays the silk industry is still alive, but through smaller private workshops. The agricultural activity is quite important, with tobacco, grapes, grain, nuts, cattle and milk as the the main products.
Decorations.
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Baku (Azerbaijan).
The Shirvanshahs ruled the state of Shirvan in northern Azerbaijan from the 6th to the 16th centuries. Their attention first shifted to Baku in the 12th century, when Shirvanshah Manuchehr III ordered that the city be surrounded with walls. In 1191, after a devastating earthquake destroyed the capital city of Shamakhi, the residence of the Shirvanshahs was moved to Baku, and the foundation of the Shirvanshah complex was laid. This complex, built on the highest point of Ichari Shahar, remains as one of the most striking monuments of medieval Azerbaijani architecture.
Interior view of the mosque of the 15th-century Shirvanshah complex in Baku (Azerbaijan).
The Shirvanshahs ruled the state of Shirvan in northern Azerbaijan from the 6th to the 16th centuries. Their attention first shifted to Baku in the 12th century, when Shirvanshah Manuchehr III ordered that the city be surrounded with walls. In 1191, after a devastating earthquake destroyed the capital city of Shamakhi, the residence of the Shirvanshahs was moved to Baku, and the foundation of the Shirvanshah complex was laid. This complex, built on the highest point of Ichari Shahar, remains as one of the most striking monuments of medieval Azerbaijani architecture.
Mud vulcanoes of Qobustan (Azerbaijan).
Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea are home to nearly four hundred mud volcanoes - more than half the total throughout the world.
Mud volcanoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but those most common in Azerbaijan have several small cones, or vents, up to about four metres in height (13 feet), sometimes topping a hill ofseveral hundred metres. These small cones emit cold mud, water and gas almost continually - an amazing and even beautiful sight, which has become part of the tourist itinerary for foreigners visiting Azerbaijan.
Every twenty years or so, a mud volcano may explode with great force, shooting flames hundreds of metres into the sky, and depositing tonnes of mud on the surrounding area.
Mud volcanoes are one of the visible signs of the presence of oil and gas reserves under the land and sea in the Caspian region. Gas seeps are a related phenomenon.
These occur when a pocket of gas under the ground finds a passage to the surface. It is an unearthly sight, especially at dusk, and it is easy to understand how these fires that never appear to burn out became objects of worship. The appearance of the Zoroastrian religion in Azerbaijan almost 2,000 years ago is closely connected with these geological phenomena, and, according to one theory, the name "Azerbaijan" itself was derived from the word for "fire" in Persian.
The origins of the volcanoes are disputed. Mud volcanoes are often formed in areas of weakness in the Earth's crust, along fault lines, and are associated with geologically young sedimentary deposits, the presence of organic gas from hydrocarbon deposits, and overlying pressure which forces this gas to the surface.
The Carpet Museum in Baku (Azerbaijan).
The Carpet Museum is now housed in what used to be the Lenin Museum.
Lenin, the founder of the Soviet system, believed material wealth should be shared - not accumulated in the hands of a privileged few. A generation ago, it would have been inconceivable that the museum honoring his memory would eventually be transformed into an Azerbaijani repository of material items representing wealth. The collection, compiled by the National Carpet Museum, celebrates the treasures of Azerbaijani craftsmanship. Exhibited items include primarily carpets, but jewelry and copper vessels are also on display.
Ruins of the Hamam of the 15th-century Shirvanshah complex in Baku (Azerbaijan).
The Shirvanshahs ruled the state of Shirvan in northern Azerbaijan from the 6th to the 16th centuries. Their attention first shifted to Baku in the 12th century, when Shirvanshah Manuchehr III ordered that the city be surrounded with walls. In 1191, after a devastating earthquake destroyed the capital city of Shamakhi, the residence of the Shirvanshahs was moved to Baku, and the foundation of the Shirvanshah complex was laid. This complex, built on the highest point of Ichari Shahar, remains as one of the most striking monuments of medieval Azerbaijani architecture.
From left to right, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez, Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Robert D. Hormats, USAID Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Paige Alexander; and Wendell Albright, Director, Office of Aviation Negotiations; discuss opportunities for further economic and commercial cooperation at the U.S.-Azerbaijan Economic Partnership Commission on April 18, 2012, in Washington, D.C. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]
Museum.
The Fire Temple Ateshgah (Azerbaijan).
In early history Azerbaijan was called the “land of the sacred fire”. Some 2,600 years ago, Zarathustra was formulating Zoroastrianism, one of the first major monotheistic religions. His idea to use fire as a metaphor for the mysteries of God probably came from witnessing the spontaneous flames that rise from Azerbaijan's Absheron Peninsula. Today some such fires still burn.
On Absheron there were many temples of Fire as well. From their variety the most famous is the well-preserved temple Ateshgah ("the Fire Place"). The temple was built over a pocket of natural gas that fuelled a vent providing an 'eternal' fire. This kind of use of fire in Zoroastrian temples led to the followers of Zoroaster (Zarathustra). Historians, archaeologists, and theologians have argued over the construction date of the temple. Some defend that there was a Zoroastrian temple in Surakhany since the 6th century, others delay that event for another seven centuries. As the introduction of Islam to the region to the area resulted in the destruction of almost every Zoroastrian temple and documents, this claims are hard to assess. After Azerbaijan was Islamised some Zoroastrians escaped to India. But trade links with India in later centuries, led to renewed contacts with the fire-worshippers, who had migrated from to Northern India. During 17th and 18th Century, the site was rebuilt by Indian merchants and masons, who had established in Baku their settlement. More photogenic is a fortified 18th century stone fire temple built on the site of original at Surakhany Ateshgah. This fire temple, with a mixture of Indian and Azerbaijani architectural styles, is a surviving proof of age old relationship between the two countries. The pentagon shaped building is surrounded by a wall with a guest room over the gate ('balakhane').
The temple was last restored in 1975. Today low, dark cells for monks and pilgrims in the Ateshgah Temple at Surakhany house is an interesting museum, intended to introduce the rudiments of Zoroastrianism to the uninitiated.
A short visit to the Regional Ethnography Museum in Sheki (Azerbaijan).
Sheki.
Situated 700m above sea level, like an amphitheatre surrounded by mountains and forests of oak trees, Sheki rises above fertile yaylags (pastures) and fields. The area is very picturesque, with narrow gorges and green valleys, springs, water falls and mineral water springs framed by dense woods and alpine meadows. In the town, you'll see old brick houses, shaded streets, weeping willow trees and canals carrying spring water. The original settlement dates back to the late bronze age. Once we enter recorded history, invaders were frequent visitors. Its name is believed to originate from the name of saks tribe that arrived in Azerbaijan in VII B.C. The city became very well known as a center of Sakasena region of Alban kingdom. When Christianity spread in the Caucasus, Sheki became one of its important centers. During the 7th century Sheki was taken by arab invaders becoming dependent on a local emirate - Sheki suffered from Arab-Khazar war for 150 years. However in the 9th century with the weakening of arab power a Christian state was re-established by the last remaining forces of the Albanian kings. It was later taken by the Shirvanshahs, the Mongols under Tamerlane and the Safavids. By the 18th century Sheki was capital of its own Khanate, only to be taken by the Russian Empire in 1805. Following the Russian revolution the Red Army eventually only took Sheki in 1920.
Sheki is long famed as a silk centre and an important stop on the silk route, Sheki is still the site of a huge factory that was once the Soviet Union's largest silk plant (such a big factory was naturally named after Lenin... - now ask for the 'ipek kombinat'). In its golden period the factory employed over 7.000 (out of a population reaching almost 100.000). Nowadays the silk industry is still alive, but through smaller private workshops. The agricultural activity is quite important, with tobacco, grapes, grain, nuts, cattle and milk as the the main products.
Interior decoration (roof) of Khan's Palace in Sheki (Azerbaijan).
Sheki is famous for the 18th century Khan's summer palace. It was built in 1762 by Hussein khan who was also well known as a poet under his pen-name Mushtag. The two-storied building is decorated with magnificent frescos (one 24 m long) and exquisite stained glass work, known as 'shebeke' (northern part of the city). The Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet wrote: "If there will be no other building in Azerbaijan it will be enough to show Khan Palace to the world". Measuring thirty-two meters by eight and a half meters on the exterior, the palace is a two-story brick masonry structure elongated on the north-south axis and covered with a wooden hipped roof with long eaves. The layout of both floors is identical; three rectangular rooms are placed in a row, separated by narrow, south-facing iwans that provide access to the rooms. The summer residence is renowned for the lavish decoration of its exterior and interior. The façades are covered in tiles with floral and geometrical motives. The interior walls of the residence are covered with frescoes painted during the eighteenth century. Many of the frescoes feature flowers in vases, while a series of paintings on the first floor halls depict hunting and battle scenes. Signatures on frescoes list the names of artists Ali Kuli, Kurban Kuli and Mizra Jafar from Shemaha, Usta Gambar from Shusha, and Abbas Kuli, who may also have been the architect of the summer residence.