Sher-Dor Madrasah in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Sher-Dor Madrasah Sher-Dor Madrasah - part of the Dome

Sher-Dor Madrasah, built between 1619 and 1636 imitates Ulugbek's madrasah. Ribbed domes on high drums placed on opposite sides of the front portal tower over a two-story facade. Islamic inscriptions, geometrical and vegetative ornament decorate the interior. Tympans of the portal arch are especially interesting. They were decorated with anthropomorphic oval of the sun and a tiger attacking a fallow deer. That gave the name 'Sher-Dor' - 'having tigers'. The picture hah been nearly lost by the middle of the 20th century, and then restored again.