MUSLIM MEDIEVAL MONUMENTS OF OTUZ SETTLEMENT (SHCHEBETOVKA, REPUBLIC OF CRIMEA)

Abstract

The study, dedicated to the medieval antiquities of the Otuz settlement, located in the southeastern Crimea, examines the mosque and gravestones of the XIV century. Gravestones dating back to the early Golden Horde period of the history of the settlement, belonging to natives of Asia Minor and Iraq, are an example of the initial links with major Muslim centers and the spread of Islam on the peninsula. It is established that by now most of the medieval sites of the settlement have been completely or partially lost. Written and epigraphic sources, stone sculptures, graphics and photographs of the XIX – early XX centuries were analyzed. The identified graphic works by K.F. von Kügelgen, A. de Paldo, F. DuBois de Montperreux give an idea of the settlement that preserved medieval planning and development in the XIX century. The topography of the location of the mosque and necropolis in the Beshik-Aziz area on the top of the Mal-Kaya hill has been determined. The religious complex was located in the southwestern part of the settlement. The architectural style of the mosque and minaret, which have not survived to this day, has been determined. The mosque building belongs to the type of structures that became widespread on the peninsula during the period of the Crimean Khanate. An assumption has been made that Otuz could have housed the summer residence of the rulers of Solkhat, the center of the ulus of the Golden Horde in Crimea.

Keywords

• republic of crimea
• otuz
• gravestone
• mosque
• shrine
• history of study