History and Legends

Tales of Hodja Nasreddin: Wisdom and Humor from the Orient The Tales of Hodja Nasreddin clearly show how the ways of a master lead to the way of Allah. When …

Legends of the Silk Road: Exploring the Cultural and Historical Significance Along the Ancient Trade Route The annals of history unveil a tapestry of enigma woven along the routes of …

Memoirs of Amir Temur – Part 2: The Heyday of a Conqueror and Statesman In my youth I heard from my father Amir Taraghai the story of a dream he …

Memoirs of Amir Temur – Part 1: The Rise of a Legendary Conqueror In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. May it be known to all the fortunate …

The Legend of Shirak: An Epic of Courage, Honor, and Eternal Love In the seventh century BC, the Scythian tribes dwelling to the east along the lower Syr Darya launched …

The Legend of the Argamaks: Heavenly Horses of Ferghana In 104 BC, Emperor Wu-Di of China dispatched a powerful cavalry of 60,000 men to Dawan. The reason for the war …

Kirk Kiz – the legend of the Warrior Girls: A story of courage and determination For thousands of years, legends of fearless women, the Amazons, have fascinated history. Numerous armies …

Legend of Tomiris – Queen of the Massagets: An epic chapter in history In the vastness of the Eurasian steppe, the legendary nomadic warriors of the Scythians once ruled – …

Legend of Mausoleum Daniel: A historical tale of awe and reverence Along the Siyab, a tributary of the Zerafshan, lies a sacred place steeped in blessings. Here, according to legend, …

Legend of Khan Atlas: The splendour and culture of Uzbek textile tradition The legend of Khan-Atlas tells of a ruler of Margilan who fell madly in love with the daughter …

Bread from Samarkand: a legend of Central Asian culinary culture In the winding alleyways of Samarkand, a city that has shone as a vibrant centre of the Silk Road for …

40 Steps from Shahi Zinda: a jewel of Central Asian architecture and spirituality When you step through the entrance portal of Shahi Zinda, a world full of legends and mysteries …

Legend of Kalon Minaret: a legacy of splendor and spirituality in Bukhara Many legends are associated with the tallest minaret in Central Asia, the Kalon Minaret in Bukhara. The Kalon …

Legend of the Mausoleum Chashma Ayyub: a historical jewel of spirituality and reverence The Chashma Ayyub mausoleum, also known as the “Source of Job”, is a fascinating architectural wonder and …

Legend of Sheikh Maturidi: A scholar and his significance for Islam Legend has it that a holy man once lived in Samarkand – Sheikh Maturidi. He liked the place behind …

First Legend of Ishratkhona Mausoleum One day, in the suburbs of Samarkand, Amir Temur was riding through the cemetery of Hodja Abdi Darun and saw a woman of indescribable beauty …

Mystery of the Hill Afrasiab: A journey through the history of Central Asia It rises in the northern part of the city. In the rainy season it is flooded with …

Legend of Chupan-Ata: An inspiring story from the history of Central Asia According to legend of Chupan-Ata, a cruel king lived more than a thousand years before the Prophet. He …

Legend of Gur Emir: A symbol of power and elegance in Samarkand There is a legend about the jade tombstone of Amir Temur in Gur Emir. The Chinese believe that …

Legend of Ulugbek Madrasah: An icon of education A legend of Ulugbek Madrasah, built in the years 1417-1420. This Madrasah was artistically in no way inferior to the buildings of …

Legend of Bibi-Hanum and the snake: a tale of bravery and overcoming Legend has it that one day a dervish came to Bibi-Hanum and during a conversation predicted, among other …

Legend about the building of the mosque Bibi-Khanum: an era of architectural splendour and cultural heritage Bibi-Khanum was Temur’s favourite wife and the most beautiful woman in his Harem. When …

Legend of Amir Temur: A look at the legacy of an important ruler of Central Asia The Emir of Shakhrisabz Bekbuwa invited an astrologer to his house one evening and …

Legend about the Founding of Samarkand: the origins of a legendary city in Central Asia The Shaikh Najm ad-Dīn Abū Ḥafṣ ‘Umar ibn Muḥammad an-Nasafī, who was a teacher of …

The state of Khorezm-Shahs: a historical view of the power and culture of Central Asia The state of Khorezm-Shahs (Horezm, Turkish; Xorazm, Uzbek; Khwārazm, Persian: خوارزم) is the name of …

Buildings of Merv: a look at the architectural heritage of the ancient oasis city Merv is known in history as “Merv ash-Shahidjan” and has ancient buildings. It is said that …

Margush – Gonur Depe: the archaeological treasures of the ancient settlement The ancient “land of Margush”, mentioned in the ancient Persian cuneiform inscriptions and where Gonur Depe is located, was …

Erk Kala Fortress: a symbol of defence and culture in the ancient city of Merv Erk Kala Fortress is located on a natural hill 261.9 m above sea level in …

History of Merv: a chronicle of antiquity and diversity in Central Asia The history of the emergence of the first city on the site of ancient Merv dates back to …

Legend of Shahi Zinda: A spiritual treasure from the history of Samarkand Samarkand – there is no other city in the Orient that equals it in beauty. The best paper …

Bobur and Clavijo on Ak-Saray in Shakhrisabz: a historical insight into the splendour of Timurid architecture The Ak-Saray Palace was built in Shakhrisabz under Amir Temur, construction began in 1380, …

Historical Merits of Amir Temur: A Consideration of the Accomplishments of a Significant Ruler Amir Timur, also known as Tamerlane, was undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in the …