The
minaret of Mas’ud III
at Ghazni, Afghanistan, c1100. The capital of the Ghaznevids.
Part of a palace which was very luxurious, with a jeweled golden
throne above which the crown was suspended by a golden chain.
380 gold dishes were set out in the hall which was spread with
carpets.
A
high prismatic octagonal base about 66 ft tall but crowned until
1902 with a high cylindrical tower, in the decoration of which
cast terra-cotta is used as well as carved brick for the monumental
Kufic inscriptions and small naskhi inscriptions round the panels.
Below are geometrical and floral patterns and the sections are
separated by wooden platforms as a precaution against earthquakes.
This
was part of a tradition of building monumental tomb towers.
The
Islamic Art Gallery
The
Middle East
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1999-2005 HistoryWiz
