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The Registan and its three madrasahs. From left to right: Ulugh Beg Madrasah, Tilya-Kori Madrasah and Sher-Dor Madrasah. Th Ulug Beg Madrasah is the biggest of the three that Ulug Beg built during his reign-the other two were in Bukhara (1417) and Ghijduvan (1433). It likewise differed in that its curriculum, in addition to mandatory theological disciplines, offered secular subjects, such as mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and literature. Among the eminent teachers invited to lecture there were the astronomer Kazy-zadeh-Rumi, called "The Plato of His Age" and the mathematician Ali-Kushchi. Ulug Beg himself lectured there. The madrasah's designation was reflected in its layout. The tall doomed corner rooms served as the darskhanas or classrooms, while the court was enclosed by two stories of hudjira living cells-deeply-recessed lancet-arched niches. The designation of the vast oblong room on the western side is still open to question. The inner quadrangle seems comfortably scaled down to human proportions, despite its large dimensions. Its four axially disposed, deeply recessed, colonnaded aivan porches served as cool "lounges" The side walls had additional entrances framed by portals. The refined decorative scheme consisted, for the most part, of contrasting combinations of soothingly-toned baked brick or marble and vibrant, glittered glazed tiles, embellished with which were not only the outside walls and minarets, but also, surprisingly enough, such a crucial structural element as the portal. The tympani above the entrance arch are filled with the sky-blue tracery of the ghirikh (knot -motif) design with mosaic insets. The ornamental painted designs of the interior decoration, fragments of which have survived to this day. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Registan and its three madrasahs. From left to right: Ulugh Beg Madrasah, Tilya-Kori Madrasah and Sher-Dor Madrasah. Th Ulug Beg Madrasah is the biggest of the three that Ulug Beg built during his reign-the other two were in Bukhara (1417) and Ghijduvan (1433). It likewise differed in that its curriculum, in addition to mandatory theological disciplines, offered secular subjects, such as mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and literature. Among the eminent teachers invited to lecture there were the astronomer Kazy-zadeh-Rumi, called "The Plato of His Age" and the mathematician Ali-Kushchi. Ulug Beg himself lectured there. The madrasah's designation was reflected in its layout. The tall doomed corner rooms served as the darskhanas or classrooms, while the court was enclosed by two stories of hudjira living cells-deeply-recessed lancet-arched niches. The designation of the vast oblong room on the western side is still open to question. The inner quadrangle seems comfortably scaled down to human proportions, despite its large dimensions. Its four axially disposed, deeply recessed, colonnaded aivan porches served as cool "lounges" The side walls had additional entrances framed by portals. The refined decorative scheme consisted, for the most part, of contrasting combinations of soothingly-toned baked brick or marble and vibrant, glittered glazed tiles, embellished with which were not only the outside walls and minarets, but also, surprisingly enough, such a crucial structural element as the portal. The tympani above the entrance arch are filled with the sky-blue tracery of the ghirikh (knot -motif) design with mosaic insets. The ornamental painted designs of the interior decoration, fragments of which have survived to this day. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Shah-I- Zindeh Necropolis, Samarkand, 11th-15th Centuries. The middle chortak porch, the tomb of Amir-zadeh and the Tomb of Shad-Mulk-aka, the Shah-I-Zindeh necropolis. The Octagonal Mausoleum (15th century), the tombs of Shirin-bika-aka, Amir-Zadeh, and Shadi-Mulk-aka, the Shah-I-Zindeh Necropolis. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Shir-Dor Madrasah, Samarkand 1619-1635/6. Opposite mirror reflection of the Ulug Beg Madrasah. Its three contrasting volumes of the rectangular portal, softly rounded dome, and upright minaret, which can be glimpsed from different angles, have long come to symbolize the reghistan. As famous are the tympani on the entrance of the portal depicting tigers pursuing does-from, which the name of Shir-Dor (meaning "tiger having" ) derives. Composed of thousands of small glazed tesserae, compactly fitted together to obviate all semblances of joints, this unique mosaic, was restored by Uzbek master-craftsmen in 1962. Most of central Asia's builders, who erected such architectural gems, remain anonymous. Though the large inscription above the entrance is pompously addressed to the person who commissioned the construction, its characteristically Oriental lyricism sooner renders tribute to the men who actually built the madrasah. It runs: "The eagle of the mind will take years to reach the towering summit of its portal despite the might and zeal of its deft wings. The artful acrobat of thought climbing the tightrope of fantasy will take centuries to reach the top of its forbidden minarets. For when the architect erected the bend in the portal arch with such faithful accuracy, the sky bit its finger in amazement thinking it was a new moon." Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The Shir-Dor Madrasah, Samarkand 1619-1635/6. Opposite mirror reflection of the Ulug Beg Madrasah. Its three contrasting volumes of the rectangular portal, softly rounded dome, and upright minaret, which can be glimpsed from different angles, have long come to symbolize the reghistan. As famous are the tympani on the entrance of the portal depicting tigers pursuing does-from, which the name of Shir-Dor (meaning "tiger having" ) derives. Composed of thousands of small glazed tesserae, compactly fitted together to obviate all semblances of joints, this unique mosaic, was restored by Uzbek master-craftsmen in 1962. Most of central Asia's builders, who erected such architectural gems, remain anonymous. Though the large inscription above the entrance is pompously addressed to the person who commissioned the construction, its characteristically Oriental lyricism sooner renders tribute to the men who actually built the madrasah. It runs: "The eagle of the mind will take years to reach the towering summit of its portal despite the might and zeal of its deft wings. The artful acrobat of thought climbing the tightrope of fantasy will take centuries to reach the top of its forbidden minarets. For when the architect erected the bend in the portal arch with such faithful accuracy, the sky bit its finger in amazement thinking it was a new moon." Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Tashkent Kuchasi, Samarkand's shopping street and market. Vendors sell everything from passports, sausages, bread, tea, spices, embroidery apricots, plums, rock sugar, and nuts. A horseman makes his rounds collecting tax from the vendors. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Portrait of Uzbekistani woman. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Tashkent Kuchasi, Samarkand's shopping street and market. Vendors sell everything from passports, sausages, bread, tea, spices, embroidery apricots, plums, rock sugar, and nuts. A horseman makes his rounds collecting tax from the vendors. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Tashkent Kuchasi, Samarkand's shopping street and market. Vendors sell everything from passports, sausages, bread, tea, spices, embroidery apricots, plums, rock sugar, and nuts. A horseman makes his rounds collecting tax from the vendors. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Portrait of Uzbekistani woman.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Portrait of Uzbekistani woman. Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Portrait of Uzbekistani woman.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
See photo in original gallery.
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