View source for Arystan Bab Mausoleum

{{Infobox religious building
| building_name         = Arystan Bab Mausoleum
| infobox_width         =
| image                 = Stamp of Kazakhstan 300-302.jpg
| image_size            =
| alt                   =
| caption               = The mausoleum on a Kazakh stamp (left)
| map_type              = Kazakhstan
| map_size              =
| map_caption           =
| location              = [[Kazakhstan]]
| coordinates           = {{coord|42.851|68.268|region:KZ|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = [[Islam]]ic
| rite                  =
| region                =
| state                 =
| province              =
| territory             =
| prefecture            =
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| cercle                =
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| consecration_year     =
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| heritage_designation  =
| leadership            =
| website               =
| architecture          = yes
| architect             =
| architecture_type     = [[Mausoleum]]
| architecture_style    =
| general_contractor    =
| facade_direction      =
| groundbreaking        = 14th century
| completed             = 1909
| construction_cost     =
| specifications        = yes
| capacity              =
| length                = 13 m<ref name="KTLOW"/>
| width                 = 30 m<ref name="KTLOW"/>
| width_nave            =
| height_max            =
| dome_quantity         = 2
| dome_height_outer     =
| dome_height_inner     =
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| dome_dia_inner        =
| minaret_quantity      = 2
| minaret_height        =
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| materials             = Burnt brick with [[alabaster]] mortar<ref name="Inform"/>
| nrhp                  =
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}}

'''Arystan Bab Mausoleum''' (Kazakh: АРЫСТАН БАБ МАЗАРЫ) is a [[mausoleum]] in [[Kazakhstan]] close to the village of [[Kogam]] and [[Otrar]]tobe.

==History==
A legend states that [[Emir]] [[Timur]] ordered the construction of a mosque on the site of [[Khoja Akhmet Yassawi]]'s grave but all attempts were unsuccessful. Timur was then told in a dream that in order to have success he should first build a mausoleum over  grave of the mystic [[Arystan Baba]].<ref name="KTLOW">{{cite book |title=KAZAKHSTAN THE LAND OF WONDERS |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2009 |publisher=BW-KZ |location=Almaty |isbn= |page= |pages= |url= |accessdate=}}</ref>

The mausoleum dates from the 14th century and is constructed over Arystan Baba's 12th-century grave but was reconstructed several times up to the 18th century.<ref name="Inform"/> In the 18th century the previous mausoleum, which had been destroyed by an earthquake was replaced with a double domed structure supported by two carved wooden columns.<ref name="KTLOW"/> Most of the current structure was constructed in the first decade of the 20th century with only the carved wooden pillars remaining from the original building.<ref name="Inform">{{cite web |url= http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2230230 |title=ARYSTAN BABA MAUSOLEUM  |work=inform.kz |date=2010-01-22 |accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="Bradt">{{cite web |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-2ZAp-TgaSMC&pg=PA363&lpg=PA363&dq=arystan+bab+mausoleum&source=bl&ots=Xh_s588DOH&sig=TqNZiUBhjhPb02j3yinbQgfbiug&hl=en&ei=InTITeOTC4HG-Qb397G0Bg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBoQ6AEwATgK#v=onepage&q=arystan%20bab%20mausoleum&f=false |title=Bradt Kazakhstan - Google Books |author=Paul Brummell |work=books.google.com |year=2008 |accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref><ref name="visit">{{cite web |url= http://visitkazakhstan.nur.kz/en/guide/places/view/130/ |title=Arystan-Bab Mausoleum / Attractions / Портал visitkazakhstan.nur.kz |work=visitkazakhstan.nur.kz |year=2011 |accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref>

==Description==
The mausoleum features a large central arch and wide front [[facade]] with [[minaret]]s at the ends and two large domes to the left of the main arch. As well as the two-chambered table-tomb ([[gurkhana]]) of Arystan Bab and three of his students, Hermet-Azyra, Karga-Baba and Lashyn-Baba, a [[mosque]] and auxiliary quarters and museum are located in the other rooms of the mausoleum.<ref name="Inform"/><ref name="Bradt"/> The effect of high [[groundwater]] levels led to the mosque being demolished and rebuilt in 1971.<ref name="visit"/> A [[quran]] showing [[medieval]] [[calligraphy]] is displayed under glass here.<ref name="KTLOW"/>

The mausoleum is today a place of pilgrimage.<ref name="visit"/>

==Arystan Baba==
[[File:Arslan legend.jpg|thumb|left|A sign in [[Sayram (city)|Sayram]] commemorating the legend of Ahmed Yasavi and Arslan Baba]]
According to legends Arystan Baba, a religious mystic, was the recipient of [[Mohammad]]'s [[amanat]] beads or [[persimmon]] stone. When he was in [[Sayram (city)|Sayram]] he then passed these on to the eleven-year-old [[Khoja Akhmet Yassawi|Khodja Akhmed Yassaui]] who became his pupil.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://sadmol.com/en/index.php?page=history |title=SADMOL travel company |work=sadmol.com |year=2011 |accessdate=10 May 2011}}</ref> Arystan Baba lived for over 400 years before his death<ref name="Bradt"/><ref name="visit"/>

==References==
{{commons category|Arystan Bab Mausoleum}}
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Mausoleums in Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kazakhstan]]