Green Mosque, Balkh
{{Short description|Mosque in Balkh, Afghanistan}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Green Mosque
| native_name = {{langx|prs|{{Nastaliq|مَسجد سَبز}}|Masjid Sabz}}
| native_name_lang = fa
| image = Green Mosque, Balkh.jpg
| image_size = 250px
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| location = Balkh, Afghanistan
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| religious_affiliation = Islam
| status =
| functional_status = Active, but ruined. Still used for prayers.
| heritage_designation =
| leadership = Parsa'i family
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| architecture = yes
| architect =
| architecture_type = Mosque, madrasah and mausoleum
| architecture_style = Timurid
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| dome_quantity = 1
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| groundbreaking = 1419
| year_completed = 1421
| minaret_quantity = 2 (ruined)
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| materials = Turquoise kashi tiles, ceramic tiles, bricks and stone
}}
File:Sketch Green Mosque Balkh.jpg
The Green Mosque (Pashto: شنه جومات ; {{langx|prs|{{Nastaliq|مَسجد سَبز}}|Masjid Sabz}}), or the Mosque of Khawaja Abu Nasr Parsa (Pashto; د خواجه ابو نصر پارسا جومات) is a mosque in the city of Balkh,{{cite web |work=Muslim Mosques |title=Green Mosque, Balkh, Afghanistan |date=13 December 2014 |url=https://muslimmosques1.wordpress.com/2014/12/13/green-mosque-balkh-afghanistan-2/ |access-date=2018-05-15}} northern Afghanistan. It contains the Shrine of Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa.{{Cite journal |last=McChesney |first=R. D. |date=2002 |title=Architecture and Narrative: The Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa Shrine. Part 2: Representing the Complex in Word and Image, 1696-1998 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1523316 |journal=Muqarnas |volume=19 |pages=78–108 |doi=10.2307/1523316 |issn=0732-2992|url-access=subscription }}https://af.shafaqna.com/FA/065111 {{Cite web |date=2020-06-24 |title=Khoja Abu Nasr Parsa Mosque & Shrine {{!}} IRCICA |url=https://www.islamicarchitecturalheritage.com/listings/khoja-abu-nasr-parsa-mosque-shrine |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.islamicarchitecturalheritage.com |language=en-US}} The mosque's name is derived from the kashi tiles on the walls of the mosque, which are coloured turquoise, known locally as Turkish Green.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}}
History
The original building was constructed by the Timurid general Mir Mazid Arghun{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}} over the grave of Khawaja Abu Nasr Parsa, a local religious teacher and mystic of the Naqshbandi order.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-24 |title=Khoja Abu Nasr Parsa Mosque & Shrine {{!}} IRCICA |url=https://www.islamicarchitecturalheritage.com/listings/khoja-abu-nasr-parsa-mosque-shrine |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.islamicarchitecturalheritage.com |language=en-US}} Later on, Arghun's father and brother were buried there.{{Cite journal |last=McChesney |first=R. D. |date=2002 |title=Architecture and Narrative: The Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa Shrine. Part 2: Representing the Complex in Word and Image, 1696-1998 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1523316 |journal=Muqarnas |volume=19 |pages=78–108 |doi=10.2307/1523316 |issn=0732-2992|url-access=subscription }} Arghun also constructed a madrasah next to the mosque. The mosque, shrine and madrasah complex was then put under the management of the descendants of Abu Nasr Parsa.{{Cite journal |last=McChesney |first=R. D. |date=2002 |title=Architecture and Narrative: The Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa Shrine. Part 2: Representing the Complex in Word and Image, 1696-1998 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1523316 |journal=Muqarnas |volume=19 |pages=78–108 |doi=10.2307/1523316 |issn=0732-2992|url-access=subscription }} The Shaybanid governor of Balkh, Abdul-Mo'min bin Abdullah Khan, later renovated the building in the late 16th century, inscribing his name on one of the walls as well.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}}
The mosque suffered severe damage during the Soviet-Afghan War, and it fell into massive disrepair. In 2022, an explosion inside the mosque caused the destruction of some parts of the mosque as well.
Architecture
The main building displays a typical Timurid architectural style. The mosque has a very large dome and two minarets. Eight openings allow light to enter the dome, but some of them have cracked, revealing the inner structure of the dome.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}} The dome has a base of muqarnas and the bottom part is covered with floral designs and ceramic tiles.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}}
The bi-level porches flanking the portal are topped with two minarets. There are stairs in each corner of the porch which allow access to the top level, letting one go to the minarets and the roof.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}} The minarets are damaged and only the base and stumps of them remain. A small wooden door leads from the northeastern iwan into the dome chamber, crowned by a tall umbrella vault.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}} There are sixteen windows placed at the rim of the vault, which assist in illuminating the interior. The dome chamber has a small mihrab niche on the southwest wall as well.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}}
There is a crypt located directly below the dome chamber. A tomb{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}} was found in the crypt, and it is suggested that the tomb belongs to Abu Nasr Parsa. A column was added later to support the crown of the crypt vault. Outside the mosque, there is a stone platform with tombstones of other saints. This was a later addition and unlikely to have been part of the original structure.{{Cite web |title=Archnet > Site > Mazar-i Khwajah Abu Nasr Parsa |url=https://www.archnet.org/sites/3941 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.archnet.org}}
Gallery
File:Balkh mosque from afar.jpg|The Green Mosque of Balkh
Balkh mosque entrance arch.jpg|One of the main entrances to the complex
Balkh mosque entrance.jpg|Closeup of the entrance to the building
Balkh mosque entrance 2.jpg|A closeup shot of the exterior of the building
See also
References
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{{commons category}}
{{Balkh Province}}
{{Mosques in Afghanistan}}
{{coord missing|Afghanistan}}
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1421
Category:Mosques completed in the 1420s
Category:Mosques in Afghanistan