Revisiting the Samanid Mausoleum in Bukhara: A New Perspective on New Materials

Abstract

Abstract This article revisits the Samanid mausoleum in Bukhara (circa tenth century, Uzbekistan) to shed new light on the historical context of this canonical monument of Islamic architecture. First, it documents the architectural properties of the Samanid mausoleum and integrates available archaeological and textual data, such as the site plan of the building, inscriptions, endowment deeds (waqf), and the recently discovered Khuttalon votive as a new prototype. These new sources allow one to sketch a more nuanced historical context that helps to better understand the mausoleum’s broader societal function, the tenth-century Bukharan patron’s intention in supporting this building’s construction, and his choice of style. It is argued that the building reflects the transitional nature of the period, before the “Persian Renaissance” under Nasr b. Ahmad (r. 914–43). Stylistic discussion suggests that it is simplistic to attribute this building to the influence of any single tradition. The Khuttalon votive challenges the Persian- and Sogdian-centered views that have dominated the study of the monument, pointing to the limitations of these perspectives.