The ancient city of Samarkand is the same age as the ancient Rome. In medieval manuscripts, Samarkand is labeled as "Rome of the East" and "A Pearl of the Islamic World", among other nicknames. In the time of Amir Timur, in the 14th century, Samarkand became the capital of a huge Eurasian empire. Currently, the historical city of Samarkand is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list due to its unique architecture and archeological monuments.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
The Registan.
The Registan ("Sandy Place") consists of the Madrasah of Ulugbeg (on the left), the Tillya-Kari Mosque and Madrasah (in the middle) and the Sher-Dor Madrasah (on the right). Originally, there was a big rectangular pool, filled with water from a canal, in the middle of the Registan. However, the pool and the canal are no longer present.
The Madrasah of Ulugbeg was constructed in the 15th century. Mirzo Ulugbeg, the great Samarkand ruler and also one of the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians of the 15th century, was the main lecturer of this Madrasah. Originally, the Madrasah had 50 cells, where more than 100 students living in them. Before the Observatory of Ulugbeg was constructed, there had been a platform for astronomical observations in the compound of the Madrasah.
The construction of the Tillya-Kari ("Covered with Gold") Mosque and Madrasah started in 1647 and took almost 20 years to be completed. The mosque was built as a juma-mosque by the powerful Samarkand ruler, Yalangtush-biy Bahadur, after the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur had collapsed and Kukeltash Juma-Mosque was ruined.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
Another view of the Registan.
The Madrasah of Ulugbeg.
Inside the Madrasah of Ulugbeg.
The Sher-Dor Madrasah.
The Sher-Dor ("Having Tigers") Madrasah was built in 1619-1636 by Yalangtush-biy Bahadur. This Madrasah is an architectural imitation of the Madrasah of Ulugbeg. Similar to the Madrasah of Ulugbeg, Islamic sayings written in white letters on a dark blue background were widely used in its décor. In the portal arch of the Madrasah, there are unique mosaic images of "tiger-lions" (striped tigers with lion manes) on the "Sun with human face" as the background. The whole image is referred to as solar tiger-lion. Tiger and lion are two regal animals in Islamic mythology as the aliases for Sayyidina Ali are "Divine Tiger" and "Lion of Allah". The solar tiger-lion images symbolize the union between the king of beasts and the king of cosmic bodies.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
Another view of the Sher-Dor Madrasah.
The Tillya-Kari Mosque and Madrasah.
A ceiling inside the Tillya-Kari Mosque.
The design of gold-plated décor of this ceiling creates the optical illusion that makes us see as if there is a dome whereas it is actually a flat ceiling.
Some souvenirs being sold at the Registan.
The Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
For the Central Asian people, Amir Timur (1336-1405) was a great political leader who had brought back the dignity of the Muslim world and made Central Asia as the center of the world power during his sovereignty.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
The Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
The construction of Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur, or well-known as Bibi-Khanym Mosque, started in 1399 and was completed within 5 years. Many architects, artists and craftsmen from different conquered countries including elephants that had been brought in from the Indian battle were involved in the construction of this extravagant mosque. The large original courtyard of this mosque was able to accommodate thousands of people who came to a prayer at one time.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
The lectern to hold the oldest-surviving Holy Quran issued by Caliph Uthman, inside the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
SOURCES:
Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Qur'an
Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Qur'an
The lectern (side view) and one of the two winter mosques, inside the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
With local ladies who work at the Juma-Mosque of Amir Timur @ Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
The Bibi-Khanym Madrasah and Mausoleum.
The name of Bibi-Khanym belongs to Sarai-Mulk Khanym, the senior wife of Amir Timur.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
The turquoise-domed Mausoleum of Imam Al-Bukhari inside the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.
Muhammad ibn Isma’il al-Bukhari was an outstanding Sunni theologian with exceptional memory. Imam Al-Bukhari devoted his entire life to the study of Hadiths and managed to analyze more than 600 thousand Hadiths. He performed hajj in his youth, and traveled to Egypt, Iraq and Khurasan to collect Hadiths. At the end of his life, Imam Al-Bukhari returned home and passed away in Hartang, a village near Samarkand, in 870.
In the 18th century, a mausoleum was erected over the tomb of Imam Al-Bukhari. Recently, the Uzbekistan Government constructed the new memorial complex on the site of the old mausoleum.
The tomb of Imam Al-Bukhari inside the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.
SOURCE: Arapov A. V., Samarkand: Masterpieces of Central Asia, SMI-ASIA, Tashkent-Moscow, 2008.
The tomb of Imam Al-Bukhari inside the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.
The Imam Al-Bukhari Mosque.
The carved wooden columns and the ornamented ceilings of the Memorial Complex of Imam Al-Bukhari.