Yazgul Tirkishova, Chief Curator of the "Ancient Merv" State Historical and Cultural Reserve The mausoleum of Yusuf Hamadani — an Islamic theologian, Sufi sheikh, and one of the preeminent scholars of Islamic theology — stands in Merv as a complex historical and architectural crossroads. It is a place where the imperial ambitions of the Seljuk dynasty, the flourishing … [Read more...]
Giz Gala: A Fortress of Clay, Light, and Living History
Yazgul Tirkishova, Chief Curator, State Historical and Cultural Reserve “Ancient Merv” Rising from the desert edge of Ancient Merv, Giz Gala is one of Central Asia’s most striking earthen monuments. Built in the 7th–8th centuries, it formed part of a fortified system encircling the capital of a flourishing oasis civilization. At that time, Merv was a crossroads where East … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan: Mausoleums of the Prophet Muhammad’s Companions – Ancient Islamic Shrines of Khorasan
Yazgul Tirkishova, Chief Curator of the “Ancient Merv” State Historical and Cultural Reserve Turkmenistan’s cultural heritage sites, including the “Ancient Merv” State Historical and Cultural Reserve, are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, affirming their outstanding universal value. The preservation and promotion of national cultural heritage are integral to … [Read more...]