Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque

Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque
Basic information
Location de jure Azerbaijan Shusha, Azerbaijan
de facto Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Shusha, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Affiliation Islam
Architect(s) Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi
Architectural style Islamic architecture
Completed 1875-1876
Specifications
Minaret(s) 2

Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque (Azerbaijani: Aşağı Gövhar Ağa məscidi) is an Azerbaijani mosque located in Shusha, Karabakh region of Azerbaijan about 350 km from capital Baku but is currently under control of Armenian forces since the occupation of Shusha on May 8, 1992.[1][2]

The Ashaghi Govhar Agha means The Lower Govhar Agha Mosque in Azerbaijani language referring to location of the mosque in the lower section of Shusha town and to distinguish it from the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, the same-name mosque located in upper section of the town. Both mosques are considered symbols of Shusha and masterpieces of Eastern architecture.[3][4] Construction of Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque was completed with orders of Govhar Agha, daughter of Ibrahim Khalil Khan of Karabakh Khanate approximately 8 years before the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque was built.[5] The difference between the Ashaghi Govhar Agha with Yukhari Govhar Agha is that the minarets of the former mosque are located in the corners of the rear facade unlike the Yukhari Govhar Agha mosque where the minarets are on the front facade.[2]

Current situation

After fall of Shusha under Armenian control, the mosque stopped functioning.[6] As of 2005–2007, the mosque is in semi-destroyed state.[7] Although it has been claimed that the mosque was renovated, the members of Azerbaijani visiting delegation to Karabakh took photos and said that the mosque is still badly damaged and no renovation works are being done.[8][9]

References

External links