Kul Sharif mosque was a title given of a descendant of tge prophet Muhammed. He was a warrior, a poet and a thinker.
The mosque was built resembling the Emir's (duke) place. The unique power of the Khanate was symbolized by eight needle-shaped minarets soaring upwards the sky in remembrance of the eight provinces if Volga-Bulgaria. Their tips were crowned with silver sharply defined crescent moons - the symbol of the power of God.
Kazan city was taken by Ivan the Terrible in 1551. The battle took place within the walls of the Khanate Kremlin (fortress). The mosque was burned to the ground.
There's an interesting legend (fact which wasn't proven much) that the perpetrators were deeply impressed of the wooden mosque that it was decided to perpetuate the appearance in the St. Basil's cathedral in Moscow. (which I'm planning to post next Sunday).
It was decided in 1990 to recreate a magnificent building as one of the main landmarks in Kazan Kremlin as historical continuity.
Completed and opened in 2005, it now stands in the Kremlin (fortress) at the heart of the city. With the capacity to accomodate 1500 worshippers and 10000 more outside on the two adjacent pavilions, Kul Sharif is one of Europe largest mosques.
info help: cultural heritage web portal-Russia
Linking with:
http://inspiredsundaymeme.blogspot.ru
