Nadir Divan-Beghi Madrasah Feng Huang

Nadir Divan-Beghi madrasah, at the Lyab-i Hauz in Bukhara. The Madrasah was originally built to be a Caravanserai but on the day of its dedication in 1622 it was declared by the ruler Imam Quli-khan (1611-1642) to be a Madrasah primarily for Sufi mystics.

Hauz means Pond. These ponds were the main source of drinking water going back into ancient times. For sanitary reasons the Soviets drained and filled in most of the ponds in the city but left this one as part of the historical setting.

I include this Google maps view of the Magak-i Attari Mosque in the Lyab-I Hauz complex. It is of special significance since it was used as both a mosque and synagogue in the same time frame and the site was earlier used for idol worship and there was even a temple to the moon god Mokh.