Askhab Mausoleums

The Askhab Mausoleums in Merv are a revered Timurid-era shrine dedicated to two companions of the Prophet Muhammad, Abu Dhar al-Ghifari and Abu Buraidah al-Aslami. The complex features two small tomb chambers set in front of two monumental side-by-side iwans (portals). While the original structures likely date back to the Seljuq period (9th-12th centuries) and were destroyed by the Mongols, the current striking monuments were rebuilt by the Timurids in the 15th-16th centuries. The iwans, restored from 1992 onward, are famed for their intricate tilework in cobalt blue, turquoise, and tan baked brick, featuring geometric patterns and Kufic inscriptions. The site, which also includes a nearby sardoba (water cistern) and a modern prayer hall, is an important pilgrimage location, although the ashkhabs were most likely commemorated here rather than originally buried.