MERV: AN OASIS CAPITAL IN THE ANCIENT PARADISE - Tourism in Central Asia: Cultural Potential and Challenges - page 137

FIGURE 9 Shahriyar Ark -Palace, 11th century (Sayan, 1999).

FIGURE 10 Shahriyar Ark- Divanhane / keboterhane , 11th century (Sayan, 1999).

SULTAN SANJAR MAUSOLEUM

The most important monument in Merv is the mausoleum that the Great
Seljuk Sultan, Sultan Sanjar (1118-1157), had built for himself in the 12th
century by the Serakhsian architect Muhammed bin Atsız, and had named
“ dârû'l-âhire ” (Sayan, 1999). This building, which satisfied one of the
criteria that enabled Merv to be listed among the UNESCO World Heri-
tage Sites, contains all the improvements and innovations of its time in
tomb architecture, and with the 17 m diameter inner dome happens to be
the biggest tomb with dome, earning a unique place in world's art history
(Fig. 11). As mentioned in the historical sources, the existence of the tomb
within a complex is backed by the mosque built adjacent to the tomb, a
well, and the several building ruins, which were unearthed in various ex-
cavations.