Nardaran Fortress
{{Infobox building
|name = Nardaran Fortress
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|image = Nrdaran qalası, 1301-ci il.jpg
|caption = Nardaran Fortress
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|location = Nardaran, Baku, Azerbaijan
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|coordinates ={{coord|40|33|41.0|N|50|00|17.2|E}}
|start_date =
|completion_date = 1301
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|architect = Mahmud ibn Sa'd
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Nardaran Fortress ({{langx|az|Nardaran qalası}}) – A historical and architectural monument located in the Nardaran settlement of the Sabunçu district in Baku. The fortress has been registered as a monument of global significance by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan.{{cite news |title=Dünya əhəmiyyətli daşınmaz tarix və mədəniyyət abidələrinin siyahısı |url=http://www.mct.gov.az/medias/media/other/13/tma.pdf |accessdate=18 July 2020 |publisher=Azərbaycan Respublikası Mədəniyyət Nazirliyi |date=2 August 2001 |archive-date=2021-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707234315/http://www.mct.gov.az/medias/media/other/13/tma.pdf |url-status=live }} In 2001, the Nardaran Fortress, along with other Caspian defense structures, was included in UNESCO's Tentative List.{{cite web |last1=Centre |first1=UNESCO World Heritage |title=The Caspian Shore Defensive Constructions |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1573/ |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |publisher=unesco.org |accessdate=24 April 2022 |language=en |archive-date=2019-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101201929/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1573/ |url-status=live }}
Two inscriptions on the facade of the fortress tower indicate that the structure was built in 1301 by architect Mahmud ibn Sa'd. This architect also planned and constructed the Bibi-Heybat Mosque in the Baku bay and the Molla Ahmad Mosque in the Inner City (Icherisheher), which was built in 1300 and also bears the architect's name on its inscription.
The Nardaran Fortress consists of fortress walls enclosing a square-shaped courtyard and a cylindrical tower located at the center of the courtyard. Local stone was used in the construction of the fortress.
History
File:Arabic inscriptions in Nardaran fortress.JPG
Two inscriptions on the facade of the fortress tower indicate that the structure was built in the Hijri year 700 (1301 AD) by architect Mahmud ibn Sad{{sfn|Щеблыкин|1943|p=21}} (or Mahmud ibn Said {{sfn|Мамед-заде|1983|p=30}}) .
The larger inscription, located at the height of the second tier above the entrance to the tower, states:
| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" align="center"
| width="50%" style="background:#f6f6f6;" | “In the name of the all-merciful Allah! Mother…Barikat…ordered to build this building on her own means and dirhams for beholding Allah, to please him and to deserve all his rewards. On the date of Ramadan of the 700th year “(700-1301)”.{{sfn|Щеблыкин|1943|p=21}} |
The smaller inscription, located slightly above the first one and on the eastern side, states: "The work of Mahmud, son of Sa'd."{{sfn|Щеблыкин|1943|p=21}}
This architect also planned and constructed the Bibi-Heybat Mosque in the Baku bay and the Molla Ahmad Mosque in the Icherisheher, built in 1300, which also bears the architect's name on its inscription.{{sfn|Щеблыкин|1943|p=21}}
All three monuments testify to the architect's extraordinary talent, his deep knowledge of the characteristics of fortress constructions, and his artistic imagination.{{sfn|Щеблыкин|1943|p=21}}
Architectural features
The Nardaran Fortress consists of fortress walls enclosing a square-shaped courtyard and a cylindrical tower situated at the center of the courtyard.{{sfn|Мамед-заде|1983|p=30}} The walls surrounding the courtyard are 6 meters high and are reinforced by bastioned towers on all four sides.{{sfn|Мамед-заде|1983|p=30}} The central tower in the courtyard has a height of 12.5 meters.{{sfn|Мамед-заде|1983|p=30}} Local stone was used in the construction of the fortress.{{sfn|Мамед-заде|1983|p=30}}
The cylindrical shape, division into three tiers topped with stone domes, the second tier's elevated entrance, and other features make the central tower of the Nardaran Fortress similar to the central tower of the Round Mardakan Fortress.{{sfn|Мамиконов|1946|p=51}} Despite these similarities, the donjon of the Nardaran Fortress also has distinctive characteristics: for example, unlike other Absheron fortresses, the walls of the Nardaran donjon do not incline inward as they rise but maintain their straight form.{{sfn|Мамиконов|1946|p=51}} Additionally, unlike the corbels of the Round Mardakan Fortress donjon, the donjon of the Nardaran Fortress is built from plain hewn stones without decorative elements.{{sfn|Мамиконов|1946|pp=52}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Literature
- {{cite book |last1=Ашурбейли |first1=С. Б. |title=История города Баку. Период средневековья |date=1992 |publisher=Азернешр |location=Баку |isbn=5-552-00479-5 |page=408}}
- {{cite book |last1=Бретаницкий |first1=Л. С. |title=Баку |date=1970 |publisher=Искусство |location=Ленинград-Москва |page=245}}
- {{cite book |last1=Мамед-заде |first1=К. М. |title=Строительное искусство Азербайджана (с древнейших времён до XIX века) / Научный редактор aкадемик АН Азерб. ССР А. В. Саламзаде. |date=1983 |publisher=Элм |location=Баку}}
- {{cite book |last1=Щеблыкин |first1=И. П. |title=Памятники азербайджанского зодчества эпохи Низами (материалы) / Под ред. И. Джафарзаде |date=1943 |publisher=Издательство АзФАН |location=Баку}}
- {{cite book |last1=Мамиконов|first1=Л. Г.|title=К изучению средневековых оборонительных сооружений Апшерона |date=1946 |publisher=Государственное Архитектурное Издательство |location=Москва-Баку |edition=}}
{{coord|40|33|41|N|50|00|17|E|region:AZ-ABS_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=title}}{{Castles and fortresses in Azerbaijan}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Baku
Category:Tourist attractions in Baku