Söyembikä Tower
Encyclopedia
Söyembikä Tower also called the Khan's Mosque
(Tatar: Xan Mäçete), is probably the most familiar landmark and architectural symbol of Kazan
. Once the highest structure of that city's kremlin
, it used to be one of the so-called leaning tower
s. By the early 20th century, its inclination was estimated at 194 cm (76 in). Diverse stabilization methods were used to straighten the tower in the 1930s and 1990s.
The tower's construction date is enshrouded in mystery. Several scholars date its construction to the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, when the tiered towers were exceedingly popular in Russia
, but others date the tower to the 16th century, probably before 1552.
A legend postulates that the tower was erected more than a century earlier by Ivan the Terrible
's artisans in just a week's time. As the legend goes, the Kazan queen Söyembikä threw herself down from the highest tier, hence the name. This legend has nothing to do with the real history of the tower because Söyembikä was forcibly detained by Moscow forces in 1551 and moved to the city of Kasimov and died years later. The legend was popular since the early 18th century.
Some even go as far as stating that the tower is the only extant structure from the pre-Russian Tatar citadel. If the edifice really reflects some original features of Tatar architecture, then its design should have certainly influenced that of the Kremlin towers
in Moscow
. Supporters of the theory point out that the only similar structures were built in Central Asia
, which was politically and culturally connected with the derelict Khanate of Kazan
. Several facts point to the validity of this theory; namely - the size of the masonry, that there is no documentary evidence supporting Russian building, the respect paid to the tower by the local Tatar population, and so forth.
In the Imperial period
, the tower used to be topped with a double-headed eagle
, which the Bolshevik
s replaced with a red star. It is currently crowned with a Muslim
crescent.
In the early twentieth century, the architect Aleksey Shchusev reproduced the structure's outline in the Kazan Rail Station of Moscow.
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...
(Tatar: Xan Mäçete), is probably the most familiar landmark and architectural symbol of Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
. Once the highest structure of that city's kremlin
Kazan Kremlin
The Kazan Kremlin is the chief historic citadel of Tatarstan, situated in the city of Kazan. It was built on behest of Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of the former castle of Kazan khans...
, it used to be one of the so-called leaning tower
Leaning tower
This is a list of leaning towers. A leaning tower is a tower which, either intentionally, due to errors in design, construction or to subsequent external influence, does not stand perpendicular to the ground...
s. By the early 20th century, its inclination was estimated at 194 cm (76 in). Diverse stabilization methods were used to straighten the tower in the 1930s and 1990s.
The tower's construction date is enshrouded in mystery. Several scholars date its construction to the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, when the tiered towers were exceedingly popular in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, but others date the tower to the 16th century, probably before 1552.
A legend postulates that the tower was erected more than a century earlier by Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV of Russia
Ivan IV Vasilyevich , known in English as Ivan the Terrible , was Grand Prince of Moscow from 1533 until his death. His long reign saw the conquest of the Khanates of Kazan, Astrakhan, and Siberia, transforming Russia into a multiethnic and multiconfessional state spanning almost one billion acres,...
's artisans in just a week's time. As the legend goes, the Kazan queen Söyembikä threw herself down from the highest tier, hence the name. This legend has nothing to do with the real history of the tower because Söyembikä was forcibly detained by Moscow forces in 1551 and moved to the city of Kasimov and died years later. The legend was popular since the early 18th century.
Some even go as far as stating that the tower is the only extant structure from the pre-Russian Tatar citadel. If the edifice really reflects some original features of Tatar architecture, then its design should have certainly influenced that of the Kremlin towers
Kremlin towers
The following is a list of towers of Moscow Kremlin. The Kremlin Wall is a defensive wall that surrounds the Moscow Kremlin, recognizable by the characteristic notches and its towers...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Supporters of the theory point out that the only similar structures were built in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, which was politically and culturally connected with the derelict Khanate of Kazan
Khanate of Kazan
The Khanate of Kazan was a medieval Tatar state which occupied the territory of former Volga Bulgaria between 1438 and 1552. Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. The khanate covered contemporary Tatarstan, Mari El,...
. Several facts point to the validity of this theory; namely - the size of the masonry, that there is no documentary evidence supporting Russian building, the respect paid to the tower by the local Tatar population, and so forth.
In the Imperial period
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, the tower used to be topped with a double-headed eagle
Double-headed eagle
The double-headed eagle is a common symbol in heraldry and vexillology. It is most commonly associated with the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire. In Byzantine heraldry, the heads represent the dual sovereignty of the Emperor and/or dominance of the Byzantine Emperors over both East and...
, which the Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
s replaced with a red star. It is currently crowned with a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
crescent.
In the early twentieth century, the architect Aleksey Shchusev reproduced the structure's outline in the Kazan Rail Station of Moscow.