Idea #628 – Exploring the remains of Afrosiab, the Ancient Samarkand
The historic city of Samarkand, located in a large oasis in the Zeravchan Valley in northeastern Uzbekistan, is considered the crossroads of world cultures, with a history that goes back over two and a half millennia. The historic city consists of three sections: to the northeast is the site of the ancient city of Afrosiab, founded in the seventh century BC; to the west, the city of the Russian period; to the south the architectural ensembles of the Timurid period.The ancient city of Afrosiab was destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. It is now preserved as an archaeological reserve. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the ancient citadel and fortifications, a contemporary Hellenistic acropolis of Alexander the Great, the palace of the ruler built in the seventh century AD that contains important murals, as well as residential and those of artisans. There are also the remains of a great mosque built from the eighth to the twelfth century.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Samarcande, Ouzbekistan