| The
Madrasah of Muhammed Amin-khan
The madrasah of
Amin-khan, Khiva In the middle of
the nineteenth century Muhammad
Amin-khan planned to build a very
large ensemble on the western part
of the city, including a madrasas
and minaret.
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But the war
with southern neighbors
prevented him from completing
the construction. The madrasah
of Amin-khan is the biggest
educational institution in
Khiva, where 260 students may
study. Its architecture is
peculiar to this type of
construction. The composition of
the building is symmetrical and
is of two stories; the plan is
rectangular with a large single
yard. The corners of the madrase
are fixed with massive
cylindrical towers (guldastas).
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The elbow-shaped
entrance-hall is covered with a
system of cupolas. There is a mosque
and classrooms on the two sides of
the entrance portal. Small portals
are built on the sides of the yard.
Hu-jras on the first floor consist
of a dwelling and subsidiary rooms.
The arched openings of the second
floor form a game of light and shade
on the fagade. The main fagade is
decorated by the traditional Khorezm
majolica and carved door. The white
and blue ribbons of epigraphies
stand against the background of the
polished brick facing. A library and
an office of a Higher Religious
Court functioned within.
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