Maiden Tower (Ismayilli)
Azerbaijani: Qız qalsı | |
Interactive map of Maiden Tower | |
| Location | Ismayilli, Azerbaijan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°52′45″N 48°09′32″E / 40.87917°N 48.15889°E |
| Type | Tower |
| Completion date | 11–12th centuries |
Maiden Tower (Azerbaijani: Qız qalası) is the remains of a medieval fortress, located on top of a steep cliff 3 km north of Khanagha village, Ismayilli district, Azerbaijan. The exact construction date of the citadel is unknown. Historians attribute it to the 11–12th centuries.[1][2]
Architecture
The total area of the territory occupied by the Maiden Tower fortress is 1.5 hectares. The plan of the citadel has a complex shape. During the construction of the defensive structure, there were stone and baked bricks used. The outer part of the fortification is located in the Karasu valley.[3] The length of this part of fortress is 28.6 meters, the height is 7.7 meters, the thickness of the walls in this place is 1.8 meters.[4] There were arched gates located in the center.[5]
The construction of a fortification on this territory was carried out in order to protect the mountain crossing.[5]
The inner part of the citadel covers an area of 300 m2 and occupies a dominant position. It borders on a side with the eastern wall of the outer fortress, and on the other side there is a steep cliff. According to historians' assumptions, an underground tunnel 7 km long went from this defensive complex to the fortress of Javanshir.[6]
References
- ^ История и культура Кавказской Албании 2006.
- ^ Гияси, Османов 1980, p. 144.
- ^ "İsmayıllıdakı Qız qalasının tədqiq olunmasına ehtiyac var VİDEO". azertag.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2025-09-01.
- ^ Cəbiyev, Qafar (2020-06-05). "İsmayıllı qalaları". 525-ci qəzet. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
- ^ a b Археология Азербайджана 2008, p. 89—91.
- ^ "Загадки крепости Джаваншира: тайный туннель и невиданные цветы". Archived from the original on 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
Literature
- Azərbaycan Milli Elmlər Akademiyası Arxeoogiya Və Etnoqrafiya İnstitutu (2008). Azərbaycan Arxeologiyası. Altı cilddə, VI cild. Bakı: Şərq-Qərb. p. 632. ISBN 978-9952-448-28-3.
- Гияси Дж. А., Османов Ф. Л. (1980). О двух оборонительных памятниках Азербайджана. Известия АН АзССР.
- Фазиль Османов (2006). История и культура Кавказской Албании. Баку: Тахсил. p. 288.