Becket-Ata Mosque in Old Beyneu
History
The Ak Mosque "White Mosque", or Ak-machet, is a small district mosque comprising an interior domed space surrounded by a wrap-around veranda. Its architecture is unique, as most buildings in Khiva feature a single north-facing iwan (open-sided room), or perhaps two set side-by-side, as in the Kuhna Ark citadel. Instead, the iwans of the Ak Mosque extend around three sides of the building, forming a continuous veranda, supported by a number of carved wooden columns. The intent of this design is not clear, though from a practical standpoint it provides a much larger sheltered area for worshipers visiting the mosque.
Urban and Architectural
The main room of the mosque is round (diameter about 4.5 m). The ceiling has a flat dome shape. The front doorway is in the south-eastern side. The mosque consists of four premises. In general the interior mimics the Kazakh yurt. The entrance doorway leads to the central room, prayer hall of round shape with diameter of about 5 m. The walls of the premises are smoothly hewn and have no decorative elements, except for lighting niches. Next to the mosque there is a spring. Locals say that this water has healing properties. Looking like a well from aside this spring flows incessantly throughout the year. Around the mosque there is a large necropolis. To preserve historical and cultural values128 monuments in the necropolis were included in the governmental list. There are tribal characters applied by different methods, images of weapons and animals on the monuments .
Description
References
Underground Mosques in Mangistau' by M. Kalmenov, O. Koshbaiuly, Almaty, Orkhon publishing house' - 2010;
Archives of Mangistau National Historical and Cultural Reserve, archives KPPM-226 (monument Passport.
https://mangystau.inmap.kz/en/places/?title=Becket-Ata_Mosque_in_Old_Beyneu_398&page=4
Details
Location
located in Beineu district of Mangistau region, 17 kilometers to the south-west from Beyneu village. N 5°11' 7.05" , E 55°6' 28.19"
Year of Build
11-19th centuries
Area
approx. 200 m2
Drawings
Map
History
The Ak Mosque "White Mosque", or Ak-machet, is a small district mosque comprising an interior domed space surrounded by a wrap-around veranda. Its architecture is unique, as most buildings in Khiva feature a single north-facing iwan (open-sided room), or perhaps two set side-by-side, as in the Kuhna Ark citadel. Instead, the iwans of the Ak Mosque extend around three sides of the building, forming a continuous veranda, supported by a number of carved wooden columns. The intent of this design is not clear, though from a practical standpoint it provides a much larger sheltered area for worshipers visiting the mosque.
Urban and Architectural
The main room of the mosque is round (diameter about 4.5 m). The ceiling has a flat dome shape. The front doorway is in the south-eastern side. The mosque consists of four premises. In general the interior mimics the Kazakh yurt. The entrance doorway leads to the central room, prayer hall of round shape with diameter of about 5 m. The walls of the premises are smoothly hewn and have no decorative elements, except for lighting niches. Next to the mosque there is a spring. Locals say that this water has healing properties. Looking like a well from aside this spring flows incessantly throughout the year. Around the mosque there is a large necropolis. To preserve historical and cultural values128 monuments in the necropolis were included in the governmental list. There are tribal characters applied by different methods, images of weapons and animals on the monuments .
Description