Have you ever stood on ground so steeped in history that it whispers tales of empires religious shifts and cultural rebirths? You are now before the Magok-i-Attari Mosque in Bukhara. This is no ordinary mosque. The Magok-i-Attari Mosque is a silent witness to Bukhara’s tumultuous past.
Let’s journey back in time. Imagine Bukhara long before Islam. This very spot was a Zoroastrian temple. Fire, the sacred symbol of Zoroastrianism once blazed here. As the Arab conquest swept through Central Asia, the temple transitioned. It became a bazaar selling idols potions and spices. Attor perfumes filled the air. Hence the name Magok-i-Attari the pit of the perfumers.
But the story doesn’t end there. This site was once a Temple of the Moon. The Magok-i-Attari Mosque even holds a shared history with Bukharian Jews. Before a synagogue existed they worshipped alongside Muslims within these walls. Some say they prayed together. Others claim Jews worshipped after the Muslims finished.
Consider the resilience of this building. The Magok-i-Attari Mosque stands as one of the oldest surviving mosques in Central Asia. It is a testament to Bukhara’s enduring spirit. It weathered the storm of the Mongolian invasion unlike many other structures. In the 12th century the Kara-Khanids rebuilt it giving it a new southern facade. The mosque was restored in the 15th century with a new portal added to the eastern ground.
Picture this. The first mosques appeared in Transoxiana after the Arab conquest. They aimed to convert the population. Often these mosques rose on the sites of pre-Islamic buildings. Here at the Magok-i-Attari Mosque archaeological digs reveal a fascinating history.
In the 9th to 11th centuries two grand buildings stood here. The lower mosque featured brick walls and a flat ceiling. Carved wooden columns supported the structure. The mosque was decorated with bricks. A fire in 937 destroyed it. The mosque lay in ruins for a long time.
Later a smaller brick mosque was built. Paintings clay carvings and painted ganch adorned its interior. By the 15th century the mosque was sinking into the ground. Abdulaziz-khan considered demolishing it. Ahmad Kasani a Sufi leader prevented this. He loved to pray here at the Magok-i-Attari Mosque. The mosque was rebuilt. Square columns replaced round ones. The mihrab was lined with marble.
The Magok-i-Attari Mosque’s architecture speaks volumes. Its rectangular plan features two octagonal tholobates. These have latticed arched windows and octagonal domes. The floor lies 4.5 meters below the earth. This is why it is called Maghoki meaning in a ditch.
The southern facade is richly decorated. Cut and carved bricks create intricate ornaments. Terracotta tiles display floral motifs. The iwan’s pointed arch rests on quarter columns.
Today the Magok-i-Attari Mosque serves as a carpet museum. As you explore this space remember its layered past. From Zoroastrian temple to bustling bazaar to shared worship space to resilient mosque the Magok-i-Attari Mosque embodies Bukhara’s diverse and enduring heritage. It is a pit of history a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered.