Back to category Published: 29 june 2022 Author: Zhanna Mukhatzhanova

Masat Ata Underground Mosque

Masat Ata Necropolis encompasses over 1000 ancient burials and an underground mosque. The necropolis consists of Oguz-Kipchak and Kazakh parts. The Oguz-Kipchak part (14-18th centuries) contains a mausoleum and numerous koytases (stone gravestones covered with ornamental carvings) and koshkartases (stone gravestones with stylized images of male rams). The Kazakh part (18-19th centuries) contains a large number of kulpytases (pillars with four or eight sides) and sandyktases (gravestones consisting of three parts: the lower one symbolizes the realm of the dead, the middle one – the Earth, the upper one – the spirit world).

Masat Ata Underground Mosque, carved inside a limestone rock, dates back to the earliest years of the necropolis. Inside, there is an irregularly shaped room with a light opening in the ceiling. Outside, the mosque is lined with processed stones.

Подземная мечеть Масат-ата внутри

Who was Masat Ata?

According to legend, Masat Ata came to Mangystau from the city of Mashhad (modern-day Iran) to preach Islam. Presumably, the name Masat is derived from Mashhad. At that time, the Kalmyks made raids on Mangystau, driving away cattle and seizing pastures. Masat Ata organized resistance against the Kalmyks. He was known as a warrior who fearlessly defended his land from invaders. For a long time, enemies could not capture or kill him. Eventually, they have found a way to do so. Masat Ata’s wife told the enemies that he was most vulnerable when praying. Enemies attacked him during a morning prayer and decapitated him. The saint's head rolled onto a prayer mat. Despite being headless, Masat Ata stood up, wrapped his head in the mat, and ran out. He mounted his horse and disappeared. Masat Ata has no grave; however, you can still see his footprints and the footprints of his horse even today. To the west of the mosque, there are indeed very realistic footprints of a man and a horse preserved in sedimentary rock.

How to get there?

The necropolis is located 20 km (12.4 mi) southeast of the village of Ushtagan in the Mangystau Region. Ushtagan is 200 km (125 mi) away from Aktau; the road will take you 2.5 hours.