Sher-Dor Madrasa

This monument, whose name translates as “the tomb with a lot of lions,” was erected in Samarkand on the Registan Square in the XVII century. Experts say that the building itself is a slightly distorted and magnified reflection of Ulugbek Madrasah, located on the opposite side of the square. Between the two buildings there is a difference not only in age (two hundred years), but in the luxury of external and internal decoration.

 

Home decor of the madrasa includes colorful ornaments of glazed brick. Interior walls and the towers are decorated with quotations from the Koran and a variety of patterns with the help of mosaics. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to this building. Many of the finishing elements were lost forever. However, many art historians and archaeologists do not lose hope to return the original appearance of the building.

 

Sher-Dor is characterized by a square base form with a small patio. Also inside you can find small rooms (cells) for students and for conducting classes. At the time of its founding the Madrasah was really the most modern facility of its time.

 

Madrasah has shown an example for other builders

 

In those early years architects and designers decided to create a true masterpiece. In the central part of the arch above the entrance, there painted an ancient symbol of abundance and fertility. In the corners of the arches are painted the tigers, which carried a heavenly body on their backs.

 

Throughout its long history Madrasah was subjected to restoration and rebuilding great many times. The major works are considered to be the ones which took place at the beginning of the XX century. The architects of the USSR, headed by V.G Shukhov, held a large-scale operation, which enabled them to strengthen the load-bearing walls and to restore the architectural appearance of the building, included in 2001 in the list of international heritage site of UNESCO.