tomb was opened shortly before the German invasion of the Soviet Union, 19 June 1941. The exhumation of Timur in 1941 was made under the direction of Soviet scientist and anthropologist Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gerasimov, who was able to reconstruct Tamerlane's facial features from his skull, and it was also confirmed that he was 172 cm in height and would have walked with a pronounced limp. Curse of Timur When Soviet scientists wanted to open Tamerlane's tomb, rumors went around Samarkand that opening the tomb would curse those who opened it. Local leaders attempted to warn the excavation team of the "risks". The tomb is inscribed with two warnings that read "When I Rise From the Dead, The World Shall Tremble". Allegedly, once opened another inscription was discovered: “Whosoever Disturbs My Tomb Will Unleash an Invader More Terrible than I". Even though people close to Gerasimov claim that this story is a fabrication, the legend persists. The tomb was opened by Mikhail Mikhaylovich Gerasimov, a Soviet archaeologist on 20 June 1941, two days before the start of Operation Barbarossa. Apparently, Stalin believed in the curse and ordered Timur be reburied. According to legend, the remains of Timur were taken to the frontlines of Stalingrad to inspire the Muslim troops in the Red Army. Tamerlane was reburied with full Islamic burial rites on December 20, 1942, about one month before the Soviet victory at Stalingrad (though by this time the German Army at Stalingrad was already encircled). Nearby monuments Some consider the Gur-e Amir, Ruhabad mausoleum and Aksaray mausoleum to be a combined ensemble because of their closeness. Ruhabad (14th century) is a small mausoleum and is said to contain a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The one-story madrasah now accommodates craftsmens' shops. There is a functioning mosque next door to the madrasah. All three combine into one ensemble. The Aksaray mausoleum (15th century), recently restored, is located on a quiet street behind Gur-e Amir. See also Registan Bibi-Khanym Mosque Shah-i-Zinda Tourism in Uzbekistan History of Persian domes References Sources Gur Emir complex, Rukhobod, Aksaray mausoleums. Information, photos, location External links Samarkand – the Capital of Tamerlane Square Kufic decoration on the Gur-i Emir complex Photo gallery Buildings and structures completed in the 15th century Timur Mausoleums in Uzbekistan Buildings and structures in Samarkand Burial sites of the Timurid dynasty Cemeteries in Uzbekistan