The Mirza Fatali Akhundov House Museum

The Mirza Fatali Akhundov House Museum stands as the first memorial museum in Azerbaijan, located in the historic city of Sheki. This remarkable site is the birthplace of Mirza Fatali Akhundov, a prominent Azerbaijani writer, educator, philosopher, and public figure, who was born in 1812. Akhundov is celebrated as the founder of Azerbaijani dramaturgy and literary criticism, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s literary landscape.

Mirza Fatali Akhundov, an enlightened thinker, playwright, democrat, and philosopher, was born in Nukh, now part of Sheki. Initially, at the urging of his uncle, who envisioned a spiritual career for him, Akhundov began his studies under a mullah in Ganja. However, his encounter with the renowned Azerbaijani lyric poet Mirza Shafi Vazeh, known for his progressive ideas, led Akhundov to abandon the path of religious scholarship. Upon returning to Nukh, he enrolled in a Russian-Tatar school in 1833, where he mastered the Russian language.

In 1834, Akhundov moved to Tiflis, the cultural and administrative center of the Caucasus at the time. He took a position in the office of the Governor-General of the Caucasus as a translator of Eastern languages into Russian, further immersing himself in the vibrant cultural milieu of the region.

The museum itself comprises two buildings. The first is the original structure where Akhundov was born, consisting of two rooms that reflect the architectural style of the period. The second building, constructed later, houses an array of personal belongings of Akhundov, alongside artifacts that narrate his life and literary journey.

The house where Akhundov was born is designed in an Eastern architectural style, evident from its chimneys and shelves. Notably, the doors of the building are quite low, requiring visitors to bend down as they enter and move from room to room. Museum guides explain that this design was intentional, ensuring that anyone entering the home would bow slightly, thereby showing respect to the host. Additionally, the low ceilings and doorways contribute to a favorable microclimate within the house, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter.