Abstract
In his monograph, Doctor of Art Professor M.M. Mammaev investigates the Muslim decorated grave steles of the 14-16th centuries from Kubachi. Despite the numerous highly artistic examples of medieval art of Kubachi, these stone steles, skillfully adorned with calligraphic late-Kufic Arabic and partly Persian inscriptions, as well as plant ornaments, have remained largely unexplored.
This work describes over 100 steles identified by the author, examining their shapes, datin īg, decorative features, while also tracing the evolution of their forms and decor. The grave steles, with their ornamental-epigraphic compositions, are presented as valuable works of stone-carving art, showcasing Arabic and partly Persian epigraphy and decorative calligraphy. The monograph characterizes Kubachi as the foremost center of stone-carving art, which significantly impacted the artistic culture of Dagestan and the North Caucasus.
Imprint
Mammaev M.M. The Muslim Decorated Grave Steles of the 14-16th centuries from Kubachi as the Examples of Stone-Carving Art, Arabic Epigraphy and Calligraphy: a Monograph. / M.M. Mammaev. – M.,: OOO «Sadra», 2025. – 296 pages.: il. (Written Monuments of Dagestan. Volume VIII).
The Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnology of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences participated in preparing this edition.
