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Table of Contents
The Minaret of Jam is a historic monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in western Afghanistan. The minaret stands 203 feet high. Being the only remnant of the medieval Ghurid empire, the minaret is noteworthy for its intricate brick and decoration.
Key Facts & Information
Etymology
- In Arabic, the word minaret means a tower, which is usually part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer.
- A minaret is typically a tall, slender spire with a conical crown.
Location
- The Minaret of Jam is located at the banks of the Hari River in the district of Shahrak in the Ghor Province in western Afghanistan.
- It is said to be situated at the site of the summer capital of the Ghurid Dynasty, which was known as Firuzkuh or Turquoise Mountain.
Historical Background
- The Minaret of Jam was built in the late 12th century. The exact date cannot be determined as the dating inscription is unclear, reading either 1193/4 or 1174/5.
- With an unclear date, the purpose for which the minaret is built cannot be accurately determined either.
- Regarded as an architectural masterpiece, the minaret was most probably constructed particularly to honor the victory of Sultan Ghiyas ud-Din, a Ghurid ruler, over the Turkic Ghaznavid dynasty in Lahore in 1186.
- However, if the dating inscription provides a later date, it could have been built to commemorate the victory of Sultan Muβizz ad-Din, the brother of Ghiyas ud-Din, over Prithviraj Chauhan.
- The Ghurid Empire prospered between the 12th and 13th centuries.
- The Ghurid Empire included present-day Afghanistan, eastern Iran, northern India, and some regions of Pakistan.
- The Minaret was brought recognition outside Afghanistan when English geographer Sir Thomas Holdich reported it in 1886 while he was working for the Afghan Boundary Commission.
- In 1957, it became renowned internationally through the work of French archaeologists AndrΓ© Maricq and Gaston Wiet.Β
- Little fieldwork has been conducted on the archaeological site surrounding the minaret, with the exception of Werner Herbergβs and Ralph Pinder-Wilsonβs surveys in the 1970s.
Structure and Site
- The cylindrical minaret stands on a 9-meter diameter octagonal base.
- Its four superimposed cylindrical shafts are built from fired bricks.
- A lantern rested on the top of the minaret.
- It also had two wooden balconies.
- The archaeological site surrounding the minaret includes ruins of fortifications and what is thought to be a palace.
- The site also includes a cemetery, a pottery kiln, and a military building which supports the theory that the minaret is a remnant of Turquoise Mountain.
- Also found on the site is a set of stones with Hebrew inscriptions from the 11th to 12th centuries.
- In 2002, the archaeological site of Jam became the first World Heritage site of Afghanistan.
Inscription and Decoration
- The tapering structure is covered by intricate brickwork decorated with glazed and geometric tile and stucco decoration consisting of alternating sections of Naskhi and Kufic calligraphy.
- The Kufic inscription is in turquoise tiles.
- Various shapes, medallions, and chains are interspersed with verses and lines from the Qurβan, the sacred text of Islam.
Conservation
- Since 2002, the Minaret of Jam has been inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage in Danger, because it has not been actively and carefully preserved and is under the precarious threat of erosion.
- In 2020, the Minaret of Jam was included in the list of cultural heritage sites of the Islamic world by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
- According to the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minaret of Jam is Afghanistanβs first cultural heritage site to be listed by ICESCO.
Minaret of Jam Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Minaret of Jam across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about The Minaret of Jam – a historic monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in western Afghanistan. The minaret stands 203 feet high. Being the only remnant of the medieval Ghurid empire, the minaret is noteworthy for its intricate brick and decoration.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Minaret of Jam Facts
- Tracing Origins
- Decode and Define
- Description Notes
- Fieldwork Timeline
- Inscription Analysis
- Reacting to Facts
- Conservation Ideas
- Publish an Article
- Designing a Minaret
- Minarets Collage
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