Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque
Encyclopedia
Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is an Azerbaijani
mosque
located in Shusha
, Nagorno-Karabakh
. It is currently under the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
since the capture of Shusha on May 8, 1992. The mosque also bears the name Boyuk Juma Mosque of Govhar Agha .
referring to location of the mosque in the upper section of Shusha town and to distinguish it from the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque
, the same-name mosque located in lower section of the town. Both mosques are considered symbols of Shusha and masterpiece of Eastern architecture.
The Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is located on Shusha's main square, Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli
street and makes up a big part of architectural complex including madrasa, shops and houses built by the same architect. According to historian and author of "Karabakh-name", Mirza Jamal Karabakhi, construction of the mosque was started with orders of Ibrahim Khalil Khan
in 1768 (1182 according to Islamic calendar
) but was stopped for a long time. The construction was then re-started and completed in 1883-1885 by the architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi
ordered by Govhar Agha, daughter of Ibrahim Khalil Khan.
in a square shape (190–185 meters) split by 6 stone columns. The three-beam veranda in the northern section of the mosque gives it a rectangular form (26.5 × 21.5 meters). The mosque has two minaret
s. The balconies used to host women’s premises of the prayer hall. The interior of the prayer hall gets light from dual windows. The two minarets by the facade make up the veranda. The building of the mosque was constructed out of stone while the two minarets are made of bricks. The minarets have cylindric forms with horizontal belts with each section laid in distinguishing brick patterns. The same construction pattern can be viewed in most of the mosques throughout Karabakh built by Kerbalayi Safi Khan Karabakhi.
, the mosque stopped functioning. The Karabakh Armenian officials have stated that the Upper mosque is under their protection. The government of Nagorno-Karabakh has done major renovation works to the mosque since 2008. However, members of an Azerbaijani visiting delegation to Nagorno-Karabakh claim that the mosque is still in a destructive state and no renovation works are being done.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
located in Shusha
Shusha
Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
, Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
. It is currently under the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
since the capture of Shusha on May 8, 1992. The mosque also bears the name Boyuk Juma Mosque of Govhar Agha .
History
The Yukhari Govhar Agha means The Upper Govhar Agha Mosque in Azerbaijani languageAzerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
referring to location of the mosque in the upper section of Shusha town and to distinguish it from the Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque
Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque
Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque 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....
, the same-name mosque located in lower section of the town. Both mosques are considered symbols of Shusha and masterpiece of Eastern architecture.
The Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is located on Shusha's main square, Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli
Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli
Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli, , sometimes spelled Chemenzeminli, born Yusif Mirbaba oghlu Vazirov Russia.Chamanzaminli was an Azerbaijani writer and statesman remembered for his novels, short stories, essays, and diaries...
street and makes up a big part of architectural complex including madrasa, shops and houses built by the same architect. According to historian and author of "Karabakh-name", Mirza Jamal Karabakhi, construction of the mosque was started with orders of Ibrahim Khalil Khan
Ibrahim Khalil Khan
Ibrahim Khalil khan Javanshir was the Azeri Turkic khan of Karabakh from the Javanshir family, who succeeded his father Panah-Ali khan Javanshir as the ruler of Karabakh khanate....
in 1768 (1182 according to Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
) but was stopped for a long time. The construction was then re-started and completed in 1883-1885 by the architect Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi
Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi
Karbalayi Safikhan Karabakhi was the Azerbaijani architect and one of the representatives of Karabakh architecture schools.-Works:...
ordered by Govhar Agha, daughter of Ibrahim Khalil Khan.
The exterior and interior
The prayer hall of Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is a three-naveNave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
in a square shape (190–185 meters) split by 6 stone columns. The three-beam veranda in the northern section of the mosque gives it a rectangular form (26.5 × 21.5 meters). The mosque has two minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
s. The balconies used to host women’s premises of the prayer hall. The interior of the prayer hall gets light from dual windows. The two minarets by the facade make up the veranda. The building of the mosque was constructed out of stone while the two minarets are made of bricks. The minarets have cylindric forms with horizontal belts with each section laid in distinguishing brick patterns. The same construction pattern can be viewed in most of the mosques throughout Karabakh built by Kerbalayi Safi Khan Karabakhi.
Current situation
After capture of Shusha by Karabakhi-Armenian forcesNagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the unrecognized but de-facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
, the mosque stopped functioning. The Karabakh Armenian officials have stated that the Upper mosque is under their protection. The government of Nagorno-Karabakh has done major renovation works to the mosque since 2008. However, members of an Azerbaijani visiting delegation to Nagorno-Karabakh claim that the mosque is still in a destructive state and no renovation works are being done.