Sherdar Madrasa

Sherdar Madrasa
Sherdor madrasasi
Interactive map of the Sherdar Madrasa area
General information
TypeMadrasa
LocationSamarkand, Uzbekistan
Coordinates39°39′18″N 66°58′35″E / 39.65500°N 66.97639°E / 39.65500; 66.97639
Inaugurated1619–1636
Part of the World Heritage site "Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures"

The Sherdar Madrasa[1][a] (from Classical Persian: مدرسۀ شیردار, romanizedMadrasa-yi Šērdār, lit.'the Lion-Bearing Madrasa'; Uzbek: Sherdor madrasasi) is a 17th-century madrasa (Islamic school) located on the Registan in the historic center of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan.[6] The madrasa's name references the distinctive tiger-lion mosaics on its façade.

The Sherdar Madrasa was built by Yalangtush Bahadur, an Uzbek ruler and governor of Samarkand under the Ashtarkhanid (Janid) dynasty in the 17th century. The madrasa was constructed between 1619 and 1636.

Together with the Ulugh Beg and Tilakari madrasas, it forms the monumental ensemble of the Registan, the ancient heart of the city.[8] The building is considered one of the main tourist attractions in Samarkand and is known for its profuse tile decoration and polychrome plant-themed paintings.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Also called the Sherdar college;[2] also written Sher Dar;[3] alternatively Shirdar,[4] Shir-Dar,[5] Shir Dar via modern Iranian Persian; Sherdor, Sher-Dor, Sher Dor via Uzbek.

References

  1. ^ Jarring 1938, p. 25; Dani 1993, p. 68; Shahbazi 1999: "Šērdār madrasa"; Levi 2000, p. 227; Parodi 2014, p. 146; Spahic 2019, p. xiii; Issiyeva 2021, p. 56.
  2. ^ The Muslim World. Vol. 2–3. 1964. p. 10.
  3. ^ Khalid 1999, p. 288; Shafi 2007, p. 148
  4. ^ Khanikoff 1845, p. xix; Cezar 1983, p. 85.
  5. ^ Lansdell 1887, p. 233.
  6. ^ Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures. UNESCO World Heritage Centre - World Heritage List (whc.unesco.org). in English; in French; in Spanish. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. ^ Shahbazi 1999.
  8. ^ "Ulugh Beg Madrasa of Samarkand, Uzbekistan". Asian Historical Architecture. www.orientalarchitecture.com. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Madrasah-i Ulugh Beg (Samarkand)". archnet.org. ArchNet: Islamic Architecture Community. Retrieved 19 November 2020.

Sources