Memorial and religious buildings of Middle Ages in Mangyshlak.

"Help all people, work like a slave,
Do good to the unfortunate people.
If scientists come, greet them with respect standing.
There is no help from vile people"

Khikmet Khoja Ahmed Yasavi.

Trip to Koben Mosque in Mangistau.

Underground Koben Mosque is located at an altitude of 232 meters above sea level, is located 2.9 kilometers from southern edge of Sauskan desert, 282 meters south of Kyuvek necropolis, 21.3 kilometers southeast of village of Zharma, 21.4 kilometers north and a little west of village of Ozen, in Mangistau district of region of same name.
The mosque is located near the necropolis of the same name. The necropolis dates back to the late XIXth - early XXth centuries. The mosque is carved out of dense limestone-chalk rock. It consists of two rooms, almost square in plan. The entrance was through a carved passage into a small room-corridor.
The corridor may have had a vaulted dome, erected from processed stones. At the moment, the dome is almost destroyed, preserved only on the day horizon. On the inside, we can judge the technique of erecting a false dome. The stones are superbly hewn, the fit is ideal.
Traces of tools are very clearly preserved on the walls. The central room is square in plan, the walls are facing the cardinal directions. The inner side of the entrance opening is decorated with protruding pilasters without ornaments. Near the entrance, two lamps made of sandstone have been preserved.
On the ceiling of this room, a skylight is cut out, round in plan. The skylight is paved from the outside with masonry from processed stones. On the eastern wall, inside the chamber, there is an inscription in Arabic script. Unfortunately, there are no written or legends about this monument at the moment. 
Geographic coordinates of underground mosque Koben: N43°38'32 E52°59'40

Authority and photos by:
Otynshy Koshbayuly, Murat Kalmenov. "Underground mosques of Mangistau". The history of the underground mosques. Almaty, Orkhon Publishing House. 2009. 160 p.

Photos by:
https://mangystaukorygy.kz/ru/mangistau/pamyat/gos?title=podzemnaya_mechet_koben_345