The necropolis of Shahi-Zinda consists of mausoleums and memorial mosques, which form the ensemble on the southern slope of ancient Afrasiab hill. Probably, once it was the cultic place, connected with pre-Islamic cult of reviving king (Shahi -Zinda means “alive king”). At the time of Babur, it was still called as Mazari Shah – “Tomb of King”. The mausoleum of Kusam ibn Abbas, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad, which were alike in appearance, forms a core of the necropolis. We know that once he was khakim of Mecca, and then was sent to Maverannahr with the Arabian troops to implant Islam on new conquered lands. Kusam ibn Abbas was one of the first Islamic preachers in Central Asia. Probably, he was killed at walls of Samarkand during one of the first Arab campaigns. According to the legend, the Arabs, among which was Kusam, were attacked by "kafirs", when they were praying, and were killed off. A destiny of Kusam has come to us in some versions. According to one of them, he was killed by an arrow; to another, he was wounded and managed to escape in the crack, which suddenly opened in the ground; to the third – he lost the head, but took it and disappeared in the well. A keynote of these legends is wonderful rescue of Kusam ibn Abbas, disappearing under the ground and continuing to live. The first structures arose here in the 11th century at the latest. At the Qarakhanids, this place became an official sacred place. The mausoleum, mosque and madrasah of Tamgach Bogra-khan were constructed. At the Mongols, the necropolis had kept its significance. At the first half of the 14th century, it was the major sacred place of Samarkand. By the 1370s, the mausoleum of some noble woman (1361) and Khodja-Ahmad's mausoleum had been erected to the north from the necropolis. At Amir Temur, Khorezm masters participated in majolica decoration of the Kusam ibn Abbas mausoleum. In the 1370s-80s, a new group of mausoleums was founded below, at the ancient wall of Afrasiab: the mausoleum of emir Hussein, opposite – nameless mausoleum of Emir-zadeh, beside – mausoleum of Shadi-Mulk-aka and her mother, the sister of Amir Temur, Kutlug Turkan-aka, and opposite - the mausoleum of another Amir Temur’s sister - Shirin-Bika-aka. From buildings of the 1380s-1390s, the mausoleums of Emir Burunduk, princess Ulug-Sultan-Begim and Emir Abd-al-Kauym have preserved. At the first third of the 15th century, at Ulugbeg, Shahi-Zinda continued to develop downhill. The staircase was installed on the steep slope, and at its western edge was erected the female two-dome mausoleum. Below, at the beginning of the staircase was installed an entrance portal, and behind it - chartak with adjacent premises. Having been formed for centuries, the ensemble exposes unprecedented magnificence of architectural decor. Besides majolica and enameled bricks, there are polychromic carved mosaics, marble plates and lattices. Large ghirikh prevails in brick-laid ornaments, in tiled ornaments - stylized floral patterns and inscriptions in Sulth. Exquisite beauty of Shahi-Zinda as if denies the death, declaring eternity and richness of the life.