The Evolution of Architectural and Stylistic Models of Mosques in Ingushetia (Late 18^th – Early 21^st Century)

   The article, for the first time, traces the evolution of the architectural types of mosques in the historical territory of Ingush settlement, based on a range of published and archival sources, the materials of the First General Census of the Russian Empire of 1897, field ethnographic data, and offi cial statistics. The study does not aim to consider the interior decoration and building materials used, limiting the analysis to the architectural styles of the mosques. The chronological scope of the study covers the period from the late 18^th century (the time of the appearance of the first stone mosques) to 2025. Three main periods are identifi ed: the prerevolutionary (late 18^th — early 20^th century), the Soviet (1920–1990), marked by a disruption of tradition, and the post- Soviet (from the 1990s to the present). Within the post- Soviet period, two stages are distinguished: the dominance of the Turkish Ottoman style (1990^s-2010^s) and the modern synthesis with elements of national tower architecture (2010^s-2025). It is demonstrated that early mosques developed within the framework of vernacular mountain architecture, characterized by flat-roofed rectangular buildings, columnar minarets of undressed stone, and ascetic decor. During the post- Soviet period, the Turkish Ottoman style (domes, round minarets, rich interior decoration) became dominant due to the disruption of tradition and external financial support. Since the 2010s, a new tendency has been developing: the synthesis of Islamic religious architecture with elements of Ingush tower architecture (minaret towers, pyramid- shaped roofs, and allusions to the ancient Myat- Seli Temple).

   The article concludes that a distinct regional architectural style is taking shape, which can contribute to the global history of Islamic architecture.

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