Mausoleum of Chashma Ayub

Chashma-Ayub - The Spring of Holy Ayub

Mausoleum of Chashma-Ayub is the religious building in the heart of Bukhara. It consists of the mausoleum and a holy spring. Today it includes a Museum of Water. The mausoleum was built by the order of Karakhanid rulers in the 12th century. It was rebuilt several times during the 14th-19th centuries. During the Tamerlane’s reign the mausoleum was completed. The building features four rooms, situated on the East-West axis. Each room is topped with a dome. The western room was the first building and was built as a sepulchral tower; the rest rooms were built later.

This mausoleum is related with a legend of the Prophet Job. Once Bukhara suffered from desert winds and residents suffered from a drought. People prayed Allah for a miracle. And the God heeded their requests. At that time the Prophet Job had a trip through Bukhara lands. He struck the ground with his staff and healing water sprang up. The spring saved Bukhara people and they called it Chashma-Ayub, the spring of Holy Ayub.