Magoki-Attori Mosque

Islamic and pre-Islamic ruins were found during the archeological excavations conducted around this mosque. Baths was also discovered. The meaning of the name of this mosque is the "Pit of the Herbalists·: attributed to its proximity to the nearby spice bazaar. The history of the structure goes back to the Zoroastrian period. Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic faith, was the state religion of the Persian Empire before the rise of Islam. This site was originally occupied by a Zarathustra fire temple which was later turned into a Buddhist temple. The temple was later dedicated to the Moon god Moh. Bukhara was devastated by fire in 937, at which time the temple was burned down, along with the rest of the city. The building was used as a mosque when the Arabs came to the region of Bukhara and took it under Islamic sovereignty. The mosque was named the "Makh" or "Mokh" mosque. There is no information about the plan or the architecture of the mosque during the Arab period. The oldest part of the mosque today is the crown gate in the south. This gate was added during the repairs made by the Karamans.

The mosque has a difference of 3 meters between its levels. Entrance to the building is through the crown gate followed by a descending set of stairs. The south door as well is reached via an area with steps. The prayer section has a rectangular plan in 3 sections on 6 pillars. There are 2 domes in the central section, resting on 2 hexagonal drums.

The rest of the sections are covered with lower domes. The structure, of which the north and west sides are massive, has a southern crown gate with a decorative scheme particular to 12th century architecture. The gate projects from the facade tike an iwan. The upper arches of the gate have collapsed. The piers of the arches extend forward and give the impression that they are placed inside the base in a semicircle with two cylindrical columns. The piers are covered with terracotta panels, decorated with geometric and herbal motifs. On top of the crown gate there is an inscription band made in terracotta and tile.

The mosque was restored by the Karahans when they came under Seljuk rule. The most extensive restoration was done in 1546. The western gate and the high domes were thought to have been rebuilt at that time.

The mosque was excavated by the Russian archaeologist V:A. Shishkin in 1939. The crown gate, buried on the south side, was completely excavated at that time. The structure underwent an extensive restoration in the 1970s. Archaeological studies are still going on in and around the structure.