Uzgen Monuments
The monuments of Uzgen are considered a classic of the Karakhanid era (10th-12th centuries). Their particular significance lies in their compact arrangement, clearly demonstrating the development of architecture over time (the Middle Mausoleum – early 11th century, Northern – 1152, Southern – 1187). The free-standing minaret dates back to the mid-11th century. No work on the architecture and art history of Central Asian medieval times is complete without reference to these monuments.
The Uzgen architectural complex consists of a group of three mausoleums, connected by portals in a single line. Since the group stretches from north to south, the mausoleums have been given the conditional names Northern, Middle, and Southern. One hundred meters to the north of the mausoleums stands the minaret. The entire group is located on a platform of a hill of the ancient shahristan, which steeply descends to the bank of the Karadarya River.
The earliest monument of the complex is the Middle Mausoleum. Based on the nature of the masonry (decorative interior brickwork) and the use of paired bricks, as well as a number of other specific features, it is attributed to the early 11th century.
This is the only mausoleum in the history of Karakhanid architecture with two portals. This is explained by the fact that the entrance to Uzgen was from the west, and the western portal was meant to impress those entering, while the Southern portal faced the Karadarya, making it visible from afar along the caravan route that ran along its bank.
The portals of the Middle Mausoleum are quite developed and have all the divisions that would later find their classical completion in the monumental forms of the Northern Mausoleum. These include corner columns that support entablatures, a "P"-shaped ornamental frame, followed by a recess that transitions to a second, recessed ornamental frame with tympanums and a pointed arch of the entrance niche, and finally, the entrance niche and entrance.
In the Middle Mausoleum, the recess on the western portal is replaced by a bundle of shaped bricks. This is a unique case for Karakhanid architecture. However, as a result of the slow sliding of the ground towards the river, the plan of the Middle Mausoleum became deformed: it transformed from a square into a diamond shape. The structures could not withstand such stretching, and the dome collapsed along with the upper part of the wall of the western portal.
In 1152, the Northern Mausoleum was added to the northern wall of the Middle Mausoleum, which "borrowed" the northern corner column from the Middle Mausoleum, resulting in both portals forming a unified, interconnecting system.
The Northern Mausoleum is unique in its thoughtful proportions and ornamental solutions that harmonize with the architectural forms. The portal's facings used carved ganch and carved terracotta, as well as relief ornamentation made of brick.
In 1187, the Southern Mausoleum was added to the southern side of the Middle Mausoleum. It also "took" the southern column from the Middle Mausoleum. Thus, the monuments became a triune whole. The Southern Mausoleum is interesting for its carved terracotta portal. Only the soffit of the entrance niche is made of carved ganch. The proportions of the portal lose the monumental simplicity of the Northern Mausoleum.
All three monuments are made of characteristic fired bricks from the Karakhanid era on a clay-ganch mortar. They have not undergone later repairs or attempts at invasion. They were restored in 1927 and in 1976-80.
The minaret of Uzgen from the mid-11th century features developed divisions typical of Central Asian minarets: a stylobate, an octagonal base, and a conical body, entirely decorated with patterned brickwork. The ornamental motifs of the wide bands are separated by narrow ornamental strips, creating a unique artistic rhythm.
The upper part of the minaret, about one-third of the monument's body, is destroyed, apparently as a result of an earthquake. Above the surviving part, a lantern characteristic of the Fergana school of the late 19th century was placed in 1923. It was restored in 1983.
