Pir Hussein Mosque and Mausoleum, Lankaran

The mosque and adjoining mausoleum with minaret built in 1256 were the parts of the religious-cult complex of Khanega. The mosque was made of well-dressed stone slabs and covered with a spherical dome. Of particular value is the mikhrab bordered by a graceful gyazha engraving, kufi inscriptions and an ornament, multi-colored tiles. The minaret of the mosque is a harmonious octahedral trunk with a platform for muezzin on top.

By means of small dark passage the mosque is connected to the tomb of Pir Hussein lit by a window cut in one of the walls. The walls of the tomb, the gravestone in its center and the arch of the passage used to be covered with magnificent ceramic face work with the images of eight-beam stars.

Long time ago this place was considered a relic containing the remains of some saint (Pir Hussein). The authority of this sacred place reached far outside Shirvan. The main decoration of Pir Hussein's tomb is 11-meter-long tiled frieze of special value. The tiles of the frieze covered with gilding are painted dark blue and greenish -turquoise. These tiles are regarded as the best in entire Middle East .