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lcurran | all galleries >> Uzbekistan 2009 - The Silk Road >> Samarkand > Bibi Khanum Mosque
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12-MAY-2009

Bibi Khanum Mosque

Begun on 11 May, 1399, it was built with the loot of Timur's Indian conquests by 200 architects, artists, master craftsmen and masons assembled from all over the Timurid empire, aided by 500 labourers and 95 elephants from India.
Of this mosque, there are many legends, chiefly concerning the favourite wife of Timur, Bibi Khanum (a Chinese princess), from whom it takes its name, and the young Persian architect who designed it. It is said that they fell in love, and he imprinted a kiss on her cheek so passionate that it left a burn. Seeing this, Timur sent his guards to kill the architect, but the Persian fled to the top of the mosque's highest minaret, sprouted wings and flew back to his native Meshed.

Canon EOS 5D ,Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
1/500s f/16.0 at 24.0mm iso400 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time12-May-2009 11:23:38
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS 5D
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length24 mm
Exposure Time1/500 sec
Aperturef/16
ISO Equivalent400
Exposure Bias-1.00
White Balance
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Programshutter priority (2)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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