Sultan Sanjar Mausoleum

The Tomb of Ahmad Sanjar is a mausoleum commemorating Ahmad Sanjar, a Seljuk ruler of Khorasan. It was built in 1157 in the medieval city of Merv in the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. Throughout his reign, Sanjar fought off several invasions and uprisings until finally being defeated by the Oghuz. After being sacked by the Oghuz, Merv declined and in 1221, the Mongols attacked it and burned down the mausoleum. It would later be restored by Soviet, Turkmen, and Turkish architects during the 20th and 21st centuries. The tomb is part of The State Historical and Cultural Park "Ancient Merv", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The tomb was built by Sanjar’s successor, Muhammad ibn Aziz, along the Silk Road. It is shaped like a cube with a dome on top, which is 27m high. The walls are 14m high, and the entire dome is 17m by 17m wide.