Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque
Encyclopedia
Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque is an Azerbaijani
mosque
located in Shusha
, Karabakh
region of Azerbaijan
about 350 km from capital Baku
but is currently under control of Armenian
forces since the occupation of Shusha on May 8, 1992.
The Ashaghi Govhar Agha means The Lower Govhar Agha Mosque in Azerbaijani language
referring to location of the mosque in the lower section of Shusha town and to distinguish it from the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque
, the same-name mosque located in upper section of the town. Both mosques are considered symbols of Shusha and masterpieces of Eastern architecture.
Construction of Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque was completed with orders of Govhar Agha, daughter of Ibrahim Khalil Khan
of Karabakh Khanate
approximately 8 years before the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque was built. The difference between the Ashaghi Govhar Agha with Yukhari Govhar Agha is that the minarets of the former mosque are located in the corners of the rear facade unlike the Yukhari Govhar Agha mosque where the minarets are on the front facade.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
located in Shusha
Shusha
Shusha , also known as Shushi is a town in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. It has been under the control of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since its capture in 1992 during the Nagorno-Karabakh War...
, Karabakh
Karabakh
The Karabakh horse , also known as Karabakh, is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. It is named after the geographic region where the horse was originally developed, Karabakh in the Southern Caucasus, an area that is de jure part of Azerbaijan but the highland part of which is currently...
region of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
about 350 km from capital Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
but is currently under control of Armenian
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
forces since the occupation of Shusha on May 8, 1992.
The Ashaghi Govhar Agha means The Lower Govhar Agha Mosque in Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
referring to location of the mosque in the lower section of Shusha town and to distinguish it from the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque
Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque
Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque is an Azerbaijani mosque located in Shusha, Nagorno-Karabakh. It is currently under the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since the capture of Shusha on May 8, 1992...
, the same-name mosque located in upper section of the town. Both mosques are considered symbols of Shusha and masterpieces of Eastern architecture.
Construction of Ashaghi Govhar Agha Mosque was completed with orders of Govhar Agha, daughter of Ibrahim Khalil Khan
Ibrahim Khalil Khan
Ibrahim Khalil khan Javanshir was the Azeri Turkic khan of Karabakh from the Javanshir family, who succeeded his father Panah-Ali khan Javanshir as the ruler of Karabakh khanate....
of Karabakh Khanate
Karabakh khanate
The Karabakh khanate was a semi-independent khanate on the territories of modern Azerbaijan and Armenia established in about 1750 under Persian suzerainty in Karabakh and adjacent areas. The Karabakh khanate existed until 1805, when the Russian Empire gained control over it from Persia...
approximately 8 years before the Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque was built. The difference between the Ashaghi Govhar Agha with Yukhari Govhar Agha is that the minarets of the former mosque are located in the corners of the rear facade unlike the Yukhari Govhar Agha mosque where the minarets are on the front facade.