Aq Saray Palace, Shahr-i Sabz, Uzbekistan

The Aq Saray palace was built by Timur in 1379-1396 CE, at his hometown of Shahr-i Sabz. Today only fragments of the massive entrance portal remains. When completed the entrance portal was 22 meters wide and 50 meters high. Inside the portal would have been a large courtyard with a water basin surrounded by two-story living accommodations.

Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz, Uzbekistan

Square kufic decoration on the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz, Uzbekistan.

Iwan pattern

Iwan pattern from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern.

Detail from the Aq Saray palace

الله

Allah

Detail from the Aq Saray palace

محمد

Muhammad

Detail from the Aq Saray palace

علي

Ali

(quadruple)

Wall pattern 1

Pattern from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

مبارك باد

Wall pattern 2

Pattern from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

العز و البقا - الد و له و السخا

Reconstruction of partial upper wall pattern

Detail of partial pattern from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

Iwan pattern from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

Transliteration of the kufic in the pattern.

Detail from the Aq Saray palace

محمد

Muhammad

Detail from the Aq Saray palace

علي

Ali

(quadruple)

Decoration details

Detail from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

الملك لله

al-Malik lillahi

(quadruple)

Detail from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

Detail from the Aq Saray palace, Shahr-i Sabz

Interpretation pending.

References

ArchNet - Aq Saray palace