EXPLORING TIMURID ARCHITECTURE AS ARCHITECTURAL AND GENEALOGICAL REFERENCE FOR MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE

Abstract [English]

The Mughals, as genuine Timurids, embraced their Timurid heritage and led a cultural renaissance. They honored their Timurid lineage through artistic expressions like painted genealogies, dynastic portraits, and calligraphic inscriptions on art and precious stones. This research paper investigates the architectural and genealogical connections between Timurid and Mughal architecture. The primary objective is to examine Mughal genealogical references in art and architecture. Further, it explores the Timurid architectural practices that served as a foundation for Mughal architecture. The methodology employed includes a historical-interpretative approach to analyze secondary data and virtual case studies of Timurid and Mughal buildings. This method allows for a qualitative comparison of architectural styles, focusing on spatial configurations, design principles, and aesthetic elements. Case studies of Timurid structures, such as Gur-i-Amir and the Tomb of Ulugh Beg, were analyzed in relation to Mughal buildings, particularly Humayun's Tomb, to trace the transmission of architectural elements. The findings decipher the influence of Timurid architecture on Mughal structures, characterized by the use of geometric patterns, symmetrical compositions, and monumental designs. Key Timurid concepts like the hasht-bihisht plan and the use of double domes were incorporated into Mughal buildings, demonstrating the Mughals' celebration of their Timurid heritage.