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Minaret Of JamThe Minaret of Jam is a World Heritage Site in Western Afghanistan, by the Hari Rud river. It was included on the World Heritage List in 2002. Its full name is The Minaret and Archeological Remains of Jam. It is located in the Shahrak District, Ghur Province. The minaret, located in a river gorge with surrounding mountains that reach up to 2000 meters, is thought to have been built to commemorate the victory of the Ghurids dynasty over the Ghaznevid Empire in the 12th century. It is 65 meters high, built entirely of bricks and well-known for its intricate brick decoration, consisting of alternating bands of calligraphy and geometric patterns. It is thought to have been a direct inspiration for the Qutb Minar in Delhi. History The Minaret of Jam is probably located at the site of the Ghurid dynasty's capital, Firuzkuh. The Ghurids controlled, in the 12th and 13th century, not only Afghanistan, but also parts of Northern India, the region of Kashgar in Western China, and parts of Pakistan. An inscription on the minaret gives 1194 as the date of construction. It would thus commemorate the victory of the Ghurid sultan Ghiyas ud-Din over the Ghaznevids in 1192 in Delhi - therefore its surname of Victory Tower. This would also explain why the minaret seems to have been disproportionate compared to the modest mosque it was attached to. The Ghurid Empire's glory waned after the death of Ghiyas ud-Din, as it was forced to cede territory to the Khwarezmid Empire. The town of Firuzkuh was destroyed in 1222 by the Mongols. References - http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=211
* Dan Cruickshank (ed.), Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture, Twentieth edition, Architectural Press 1996, ISBN 0750622679
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