The Arch of Neutrality
This monument has become an urban symbol which serves as a powerful reference point in the city. The inspiration for the Arch ofNeutrality was the traditional Turkmen trivet - a stable tripod, used for holding a boiler, under which a fire is kind-led. In the project the trivet was transformed into three widely curved pylons connected by disks and rings of different diameters and thickness. These are the viewing sites, located on different levels, where a perfect panorama of Ashgabat opens up. Visitors are transported to the first level by funiculars. There, at a height of 21.5 m there is a circular cafe-bar with a panoramic view. The transparent lift takes visitors to 50 meters, where the upper viewing platform is situated. At 63 meters, there is a 12 m sculpture of Saparmurat Turkmenbasi on a background of a
fluttering flag. This part of the monument rotates slowly. The Arch of Neutrality reaches a total of 75 meters, making it the highest construction in Turkmenistan, above the 600 year old Kutlug Timur minaret. The Arch of Neutrality is decorated with white marble, with bronze relief compositions from Turkmen history on the sides of Pylons. Vertical sections of the pylons between the upper and lower survey sites are combined with five identical bronze rings, each featuring relief lattices with images of ghels-basic carpet elements from the various Turkmen tribes. It should be mentioned that the Arch of Neutrality is an excellent example of so called light architecture.
National Museum of History and Ethnography
The Museum was opened in November 1998. The museum has s rich collection of ancient artifacts from Turkmenistan. More than 500,000 exhibits are displayed here. It has 9 halls, each dedicated to a certain period or theme. The museum reveals the variety of Turkmenistan's landscape: its flora and fauna, fossils and rare geological finds. The Hall of Independence, illustrating the modern development of the country, along with a range of costly presents given to Saparmurad Turkmenbashi, and donated by him to the museum. The Hall of Ancient History presents a collection of flint tools from the Mesolithic era(50 000 years B.C.), used by primitive people in Western Turkmenistan, along with Neolithic ceramics and ornaments from the first human settlements along the northern slopes of Kopet-Dag. There are objects made of
clay and metal, semi-precious stones, witnessing tile high level of development of the early agricultural civilizations of Jeitun, Altyn Depe, Namzga-Depe, Anau Depe etc. The place of honor in this hall is occupied by Margians, a unique Bronze Age civilization discovered by the archeologists in the Kara-Kum desert to the north of the modern town of Bairam Ali, wilich was a fertile delta of the Murgab river about 3000 years ago. One highlight in the museum is a remar-kable collection of ivory rythons, discovered during the excavations at the Old Nisa - residence of Parthian kings from the Arshakid Dynasty. Marble statues, silver items from this fortress are outstanding examples of art closely connected with the Hellenistic tradition. The Hall of the Middle Ages tells about the Sasan instruments. Turkmenistan's famous
hand made carpets of dyed sheep's wool are the finest masterpieces of the national art of the Turkmen people. But another important place in Turkmen national art belongs to female dress, and primarily bridal costumes. The brightest examples of this tradition are embroidered fabrics, and gilded silver jewelry featuring precious stones, stamping and engraving. Special silver ornaments were also made for the famous Akhal Teke horses, which played a major role not only in the nation's history, but as the focus of cult. The museum is open daily, except Tuesday, from 10 AM till 5 PM. Museum has a souvenir shop.
Museum of Fine Arts
It was founded in 1927 by the initiative of Russian sculptor A.A Karelin. However only in 1939 it got the status of the Museum of the Fine Arts. The museum has an eclectic collection of artwork. More than 6,000 exhibits include paintings, sculpture, and graphics by Turkmen, Russian and foreign artists. Among the local painters there are the beginners of Turkmen fine art: A.Hagiev, I. Ilisli, Klycheva, Bairamova, S.Babicova . The collection of West-European paintings includes the works of Italian, Dutch,Flemish, German and Enghsh niasters.The most valuable are the sections of Italian and Dutch paintings. Among them there are the works of Geinpetrino, Raphael Santy.Jan van Goeyn and several paintings.
Carpet Museum
The museum was opened on the 24th of October 1994. This museum has a large, impressive collection of antique carpets, carpet articles/ chuvals, khurjuns, torba etc./ and also two first biggest carpets, made in Turkmenistan/ 18m by 11,5 m/total area 192 square m. and 20 m by 13 m/266 square m. The first biggest carpet weighs a little bit less than one tone and the second biggest carpet weighs one tone. The art of carpet making goes back into antiquity. It has not been established yet what came first - painted ceramics or carpets. During archeological excavations at Namazga-Depe/ 3d millenium BC/ painted ceramics was found. Some designs of this ceramics are very similar to the carpet symbols. In the 12c the Italian traveler Marco Polo found the Turkmen carpets as the most beautiful and thinnest in the world. In the
14th century two Italian Renaissance painters, Lippo Mernmo and Nicolo Buonarocso depicted the Turkmen carpets at their paintings. It is very interesting that German, Flemish and Italian painters were familiar with Turkmen carpets. The visitors could visit a small carpet work shop. The museum also has a carpet shop where the visitors can buy new carpets. The museum is open daily, except Sunday, from 10.00 AM till 5.00 PM.
Bagyr village - Mausoleum of Shikh Alov Mausoleum and Khalimberdy Ishan and Namazga Mosque
23 km from Ashgabat to the south west. Shikh Alou - the mausoleum of the local sheikh Abu Ali Dakkak. It was constructed at the 12 century in honor of Ali Abu Dakkak -Shih Alov, who was originally from Iran. There are a lot of legends about this legendary person. One of which tells when Shikh Alov was only 7 years old, he helped Mukhammed Hazret Ali to spread up in the south Turkmenistan Islam. Later Shikh Alov became the follow of the School of Suffism. The word "Shikh Alov" translation "Flaming Sheikh". Close to the mausoleum one can see the sacred water spring and wish tree. At the foot of the Kopet Dag mountains there is another historical monument, Mosque Namazga. Namazga is a specific mosque usually built in the outskirts that serve for assemblies of town dwellers twice a year, on the days the main Muslim
holidays. The Namazga of Bagir/Nisa had been built probably in the end of XIII- beginning of XIV century and represented a domed chamber open to outside. The big mosque of Khalimberdi Ishan (the end of XIX - beginning of the XX c.c.) is very interesting The most attractive thing there is mikhrab/ altar niche, in the decoration of which the motifs of typical Islamic floral ornament and Parthian architecture with its Hellenic traditions interlaced.
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