Shirvanshahs' Palace

Divankhana is the classical piece of Shirvanshahs’ Palace.The delicate stone carving arabesques of the monument have been admiring the visitors for centuries. The relief depth of the patterns reachs to 4-5 centimetres in some places.

There are holy words of the muslims inside the hexagonal medallions on the right and left side of the portal written in Middle Ages arabic “Kufic” script and they create rhombs. The incomplete construction of Divankhana due to the political events of that period is still debatable.

The magnificent and luxurious Divan-Khana was built from eight-pointed rotundas on a high throne, surrounded by arched balconies from five sides.

The verses of Islam are engraved in ancient Kufic writing on the 6-point trays placed on the portal frame from both sides. On the left tray, the words " There is no god but Allah, Mohammad (saw) is the messenger of Allah, Ali (a.s) is the wali of Allah," and on the right tray, the words "Allah is the only One” “Muhammad" are written.

There is a deep underground water reservoir-ovdan built in close proximity to the palace territory for the collection of underground springs along the walls of the complex from the north to the west. Water came into the ovdan through a well-kept underground water pipe-kyhryza and then was supplied to the Shah bathhouse.

The palace’s ovdan was considered one of the largest reservoirs in Absheron with the best drinking water. It was possible to descend into the reservoir having relatively small portal by a gentle staircase. Like other ovdans of Azerbaijan, in palace’s ovdan for reason of sustainability the focus was directed to the stone works rather than decorations.

The bathhouse, stayed underground for a long time, was discovered during excavations in 1936. Like all Eastern countries, the bathhouse was built under the ground for regulation of the heat in winter and of the coolness in the summer. The light fell inside the bathhouse from the outside through cracks, only the entrance portal and dome of the bathhouse were visible from outside.

The architectural structure of this constuction draws attention. The connection between the changing and washing rooms was highly thought-proven. Bathhouse heating system is also very interesting.

The height of a Shah Mosque’s minaret is 16 meters. It had been inscribed that this minaret was built by Shirvanshah Khalilullah in the XV century. Unfortunately, the stone sherefe of a minaret was destroyed by the russian tsar fleets’ cannonballs.

There are three entrances to the mosque and two separate prayer halls for women and men. In the opposite of a main entrance there is a mehrab showing the direction of Mecca.

Seyid Yahya Bakuvi tomb is located in the middle courtyard of Palace complex. The octagon shaped tomb is also known as “Dervish tomb” among people. Presumably this is the tomb of a well- known scientist Seyid Yahya Bakuvi who was born in Shirvan region of Azerbaijan. This world-famous scientist was a theologian of encyclopedic knowledge as well as a well-known sufi.

His scientific works on philosophy, history, astronomy, medicine and mathematics mainly written in arabic language decorate the world’s libraries and museums now. 8-pointed tomb of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, a palace poet and scientist lived in time of Shirvanshah Khalilullah I, is located in the 2nd courtyard. At that time, Seyid Yahya Bakuvi had gained a reputation as a philosopher, teacher, astrologist and historian. The building known as "Dervish’s Tomb" was built in the XV century.

There are fragments of conserved Key Gubad Mosque (XIV century) in the middle yard of the palace.

The monument was destroyed by cannonballs shot by armenian dashnaks during the genocide of azerbaijanis on the 31st March 1918. Probably, the mosque was built by Shirvanshah Keygubad I who lived in the XIV century.