Medieval Azerbaijan and the development of its visual media

Abstract

Introduction. One of the main features of medieval structures created by Azerbaijani architects and sculptors is the artistic form decorated with elegant designs. Monuments with ornaments are found on buildings that serve as information carriers of the epoch (cult and memorial buildings, baths, castles, palaces, bridges). Since the 11th–12th centuries, the placement of various ornaments on monuments has become an integral part of Azerbaijani art. Materials and methods. The use of various types of ornaments has led to the emergence of new architectural schools. Results. Monuments created by medieval architects: Ibrahim ibn Osman (Ganja Gate, 1063), Adjami Abubekr oglu Nakhchivani (Yusif ibn Kusayr mausoleum in Nakhchivan, 1162), Momuna Khatun (Mausoleum of Momuna Khatun, 1186), etc. highlighted by their visual representations. Brief information about the history and architecture of the monument is inscribed on the stone slabs (Sayyed Yahya Bakuwi mausoleum, Maiden Tower, decorative patterns on the portal of the eastern gate of the Shirvanshah complex, etc.). Beginning in the Middle Ages, emergence of Azerbaijani architectural schools began in Arran, Nakhchivan, Shirvano-Absheron and Tabriz schools. Unlike the Middle Ages, nowadays visual information is more widely used on roads, in parks, on crossroads. Conclusions. The formation of the architectural environment in the 11th–12th centuries revealed the styles of Baku, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Gabala and Arran. The Middle Ages played elegant ornaments in the form of a rose, geometrical, plot, le­gendary, mixed, and stamped. It has been established that the model of the city, based on ancient historical and theoretical studies, can be improved. The increasing importance of information requires the use of architectural, artistic, and aesthetic elements. In the 21st century elegant ornaments with visual power remain relevant in the urban environment.