Melik Ajdar Mausoleum
Location: Jijimli, Lachin
Condition Assessment
Status: Major damage
Melik Ajdar Mausoleum, located in the village of Jijimli (Lachin district), is listed on the Republic of Azerbaijan's registry of heritage sites (inventory No. 311) as dating to the 14 th century. 1,2
According to Salamzade's classification of 12th-15th c. mausolea, this octahedral mausoleum is distinctive. The mausoleum exterior was lined with large cleanly hewn slabs. The diameter of the cornice is significantly less than that of the base, creating a tapered profile. Above the cornice rises a parabolic cover. On the north side is a small entrance framed with ribbons of embossed rosettes. The interior is sparingly lit by four small rectangular windows located at the base of the dome. 3
Comparison of KH-9 Hexagon imagery dated August 1977 4 with satellite imagery captured on June 8, 2004 5 shows that the dome of the mausoleum collapsed during that interval. The collapse of the dome is further confirmed by the comparison of a Soviet-period image with recent images ( a , b ) and video of the monument.
Drag the swipe tool right to see the mausoleum in August 1977; 4 drag left to see the mausoleum in June 2004. 5
The mausoleum remained in the same condition in the period between June 2004 and April 2022.
Drag the swipe tool right to see the mausoleum in June 2004; 5 drag left to see the mausoleum in April 2022. 6
Geolocation
The mausoleum is marked on a 1:25K scale topographic map of 1955. 7
The mausoleum on a 1:25K scale map of 1955. 7
Supplementary Imagery
The plan and sketch of the mausoleum
References
2 Архитектура Азербайджана: эпоха Низами. [отв. ред. С. А. Дадашев, М. А. Усейнов]. Москва: Баку: Государственное архитектурное издательство, 1947.
3 Усейнов М., Бретаницкий Л., Саламзаде А., История архитектуры Азербайджана. Акад. наук АзССР. Ин-т архитектуры и искусства. Москва: Госстройиздат, 1963, p. 101-104.
4 KH-9 Hexagon, D3C1213-200317F015, August 22, 1977.
5 Google Earth/Maxar Technologies, June 8, 2004.
6 Google Earth/CNES/Airbus, April 2022.
7 1:25K scale topographic map of the General Staff of the Soviet Army (Sheet J-38-22-A-v, 1955).
