Anau Mosque 1455-1456 The mosque in Anau, which is sometimes incorrectly called the Jemal-ul-Uaddan mausoleum, was built in 1455-1456 under Abul-Kasim Babur. It represents a type of mosque open to the courtyard, common for Friday and suburban (namazga) mosques, where the courtyard or area intended for worshipers.
The monument in Anau uses the technique of a portal-domed building. In it, the new style did not supplant the techniques that had existed for so long in Central Asia. The portal of simplified forms ends at the top with a through arcature. Through the pointed arch of the portal, an interior with magnificent stalactite decoration opens.
The tympanums carved in mosaics depicting stylized Chinese dragons. Great ties and trade relations with China have influenced the art of Central Asia since ancient times. Large quantities of dishes, fabrics and other products exported from China. Chinese themes encountered in the 14th century murals in Shah-i-Zinda. Dragons on the tympans of the Anau mosque – an independent interpretation of the Chinese motif by masters and artists of Central Asia.
The building built on a cliff. On the technical side, the installation of the dome on four large arches with weak angles unsuccessful: the mosque covered with ominous cracks of old origin.
To prevent destruction, two corners of the southwest side reinforced with powerful buttresses in the form of round towers.
