Afrosiab History Museum

Afrosiab History Museum — photo 1

The Afrosiab History Museum dedicated to the history of Samarkand is the main museum of the city. It has long been known that present-day Samarkand is located on the territory of one of the most ancient cities of the world, Afrosiab, the capital of the Sogdian state that existed in the 8th century BC.

Invaluable data obtained in the course of archaeological excavations carried out on its territory shed light on the crafts, leisure time and customs of the people of that time. Many drawings, elements of crockery, buildings, and jewelry have been found there. The settlement is a cultural heritage site protected by the state.

The History Museum is located not far from the ancient city. The building was built in 1970; today it houses one of the largest collections of various artifacts found at different times on the territory of the settlement. They cover the entire history of this place from the Turanian state, the conquests by Alexander the Great and Zoroastrian period to the Muslim heritage.

The elements of ancient weapons are the most amazing part of the collection. Various swords, bows and arrows, knives, and parts of uniforms occupy a large part of the museum. Most of them were made during the reign of the Ikhshidid dynasty, the Sogdian rulers living in the 7th-8th centuries. Among other things, many books, manuscripts, household items and figurines have been found.

Afrosiab History Museum — photo 2

Archaeologists also paid attention to the period of Zoroastrianism. Excavations began back in the 19th century and are still underway. The attraction keeps in store invaluable findings. Among them, there are skulls found on the territory of Afrosiab, tools, and dishes. Wall paintings discovered during excavations tell us about the traditions of that time, appearance, clothes and social status of people. The artifacts of the Timurid era, one of the most interesting periods of the golden age of Samarkand, have been preserved rather well.

In the 1970s, a map of the ancient settlement was created. The author of the project was architect Baghdasar Arzoumanian, who participated in the excavations. Due to his work it is now known that the city was well planned, fortified and had a strong defense system. It was divided into districts, streets and intersections and had the main Shahristan Palace.

Afrosiab History Museum — photo 3

Having examined the ruins in detail, the architect was able to show not only the exterior of the city, but also its internal structure, image and power. The date of establishment of the museum coincided with the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of Samarkand, and all artifacts found earlier were exhibited in it. Today, everyone can visit the museum and learn more about the history of this amazing city.

Canaan Travel invites you to Samarkand, one of the most beautiful cities in Uzbekistan and one of the greatest ancient cities in the world.

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