Shrouded in mystery and steeped in legends, Bayil Castle evokes a sense of intrigue and wonder. Once a crucial bastion for the defense of Baku, this mythical sunken city is now merely a small island off the coast, a remnant of its storied past. For centuries, Bayil Castle was renowned, only to fade into obscurity—yet unlike the fabled Atlantis, its existence is well-documented.
Constructed between 1232 and 1235 under the reign of Shirvanshah Fariburz III, Bayil Castle was built to safeguard Baku from maritime threats. This stronghold, also known as Sabayil Castle, Shakhri Saba, Shakhri Nau, the “submerged city,” or the “Bayil Stones,” was designed by the architect Zejnaddin ibn Abu Rashid Shirvani. The castle features an elongated, irregular rectangular shape measuring approximately 180 by 40 meters, mirroring the contours of the island’s coastline.
The fortifications of Bayil Castle are impressive, with walls measuring 1.5 to 2 meters thick and punctuated by 15 towers—three of which are round, while the remaining twelve are semicircular. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the foundations of nine buildings within the castle complex. Notably, the western wall is adjacent to the remnants of a platform that once supported the central tower, which functioned both as a watchtower and a beacon. Historians also speculate that a fire-worshippers’ temple may have existed on the site.
A unique feature of Bayil Castle is the band of inscriptions that once adorned its upper section, inscribed in Arabic and Farsi alongside depictions of human faces and fantastical creatures. This inscription stretches approximately 400 meters in length and includes deciphered fragments that date the construction to 632 AH (1234-1235 CE) and identify the architect. Additionally, the text provides a genealogy of the Shirvanshah Mazjadids dynasty, illustrated through crowned busts, while various animal figures symbolize the years of the Shirvanshah rulers.
These inscriptions are unparalleled in the Middle East, marking a significant moment in Islamic art as they represent the first known instances of human and animal imagery on a Muslim monument. Regrettably, the upper portion of Bayil Castle has been completely destroyed, leaving only the lower sections of the walls and towers intact. Today, the remaining inscriptions are preserved in the courtyard of the Shirvanshah Palace.
In 1306, a massive earthquake struck the southern Caspian Sea, causing the sea level to rise and submerging Bayil Castle beneath the waves. From the early 14th century until the early 18th century, the castle lay hidden beneath the Caspian Sea. It wasn’t until 1723, when the sea levels began to recede, that the top of the tower re-emerged. Today, only a small portion of this historic fortress is visible from the coastline or nearby viewpoints, serving as a poignant reminder of its once-majestic presence.