Afrasiab (Ancient Samarkand)
Afrasiyab · Afrasiab · Ancient Samarkand · Maracanda
Sogdian 7th c BCE → Samanid 9th–10th c → Mongol 1220 CE·Sogdian Maracanda → Sasanian → Samanid Samarkand·🇺🇿 Samarkand Province, Samarkand city northern edge (Afrasiab hill) on Siab canal, 3 km north of Registan (Zarafshan oasis), Uzbekistan
About
About Afrasiab (Ancient Samarkand)
Afrasiab — ancient Samarkand / Maracanda (7th c BCE–1220 CE) 3 km north Registan, excavated 1874–present by Vyatkin, Shishkina, Grenet. Afrasiab is the 219-ha walled pre-Mongol Samarkand, occupied 7th c BCE Sogdian Maracanda (Alexander 329 BCE siege), Sasanian–Hephthalite, Sogdian Samarkand (Penjikent contemporary), Samanid, and Khwarazmshah, destroyed Genghis 1220. Contains Sogdian palace with Ambassadors Painting (660 CE) now museum, Afrasiab frescoes (Chinese princess, Korean ambassadors), fire temple, mosque, and pottery kilns. UNESCO Samarkand 2001 Crossroads of Cultures.
Why it mattersAncient Maracanda besieged by Alexander 329 BCE — Sogdian Ambassadors Painting type-site with Chinese/Korean envoys
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Ambassadors Painting — which Chinese–Korean embassy 660 CE?
Theories
- 01Afrasiab as Sogdian Silk Road diplomatic archive per Grenet
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.7th c BCE Sogdian Maracanda; Samanid apogee 9th–10th c
- Period
- Sogdian 7th c BCE → Samanid 9th–10th c → Mongol 1220 CE
- Culture
- Sogdian Maracanda → Sasanian → Samanid Samarkand
- Builders
- Sogdian afshins and Samanid amirs
- Purpose
- Sogdian–Samanid Samarkand capital controlling Zarafshan oasis and Silk Road Central Asia
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
7th c BCE
Sogdian Maracanda founded
329 BCE
Alexander siege
660 CE
Ambassadors Painting fresco in palace
1220
Genghis Khan destruction
2001
UNESCO Crossroads of Cultures 603
On the ground
Structures & features
39.6710° N · 66.9930° E · 720 m · 2 mapped features
Sogdian Palace with Ambassadors Painting Hall
palacePalace hall with 660 CE fresco depicting Chinese, Korean, and Turkish ambassadors
39.6720° N · 66.9922° ENorthern City Wall and Pottery Kiln Quarter
wall5 km city wall with Samanid slipware kiln quarter north
39.6695° N · 66.9941° E