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Uzbekistan

Along with Bukhara, Samarkand is one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, prospering from its location on the trade route between China and Europe. Samarkand's earliest dates of the city's founding is believed to be the 8th–7th centuries BC. The buildings seen in the photo are Registan Square. Registan was a public square, where people gathered to hear royal proclamations, heralded by blasts on enormous copper pipes called dzharchis - and a place of public executions. It is framed by three madrasahs, Islamic schools, of distinctive Islamic architecture.

When we arrived in Smarkand there was a Shanghai Summit taking place, September 14-15, 2022, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, taking place, just blocks from our hotel, with 14 World leaders from surrounding countries, including Xi from China and Putin from Russia. The entire town was locked down. This was the reason we arrived by train. The photo was taken the day after the conference concluded. This gorup of police was part of the protection team for the leaders and were given a tour of the city before returning to their home countries.

Tilla-Kari Madrasah is the last of the three buildings of the world-famous complex of Registan Square, that was erected by a ruler of Samarkand. It was built in 1646 and, according to the plan of Yalangtush Bakhadur, it should have combined a spiritual institution and a mosque.

Another view of the Shor-Dor Madrasah.

The influence of this ancient Uzbek grand square stretches far across the world’s cities, from Isfahan in Iran to Agra in India and Russia’s St Petersburg

Sher-Dor Madrasah was built on the Registan Square, Samarkand in 1619-1636. The name is translated as “Madrassah with Lions”. It is the distorted and exaggerated reflection of the Ulugbek Madrasah, which is located just opposite, on the western side of the Registan Square. The difference in age between them is 200 years. Sher-Dor has larger area and sizes, but it yields to its “elder brother” by the quality of finishing works.

The Ulugh Beg Madrasa an Islamic school in the historic center of Samarkand. Together with other monuments, it forms the monumental ensemble of Registan, the old heart of the city. It was built between 1417 and 1421 by the then-Timurid governor of Samarkand, Ulugh Beg, Timur's grandson and prominent astronomer, who was later emperor between 1447 and 1449. The madrasa was an important teaching center of the Timurid Empire, where they taught some of the most outstanding scholars of their time, both religious and secular. It is the oldest building in Registan, the only one from the 15th century.

Photos showing the disrepair of the buildings through time

Inside the Observatory of Ulugbekn observatory in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, built in the 1420s by the Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg. The observatory was destroyed in 1449 and rediscovered in 1908.

Ulugbek, who had a great knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, agreed to build an observatory. In this regard, Ulugbek gathered many scientists and in 1417 convened a meeting dedicated to the construction of the observatory.

The work of medieval Eastern astronomers, including Central Asian scientists, has a special place in the development of world astronomy. During this period, Central Asian scholars, especially Uzbeks, left a very rich legacy, especially on the theory of motion of the Sun, Moon and planets, practical astronomy on determining the geographical coordinates of time and place

A look into the depths of the Universe from an observatory set up by Ulugbek and his comrades at the foot of Samarkand, a great city almost six centuries ago, reveals the "undiscovered reserve" of world science and culture - the study of the universe was a big step forward.

Inside the Madrasa are many works from Ulugbek. Ulugbek, who had a great knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, agreed to build an observatory. In this regard, Ulugbek gathered many scientists and in 1417 convened a meeting dedicated to the construction of the observatory. This site is where Uleg made some of the greatest achievements of the pre telescopic era or astronomy in the 15th century.

Sundial in the courtyard with reflections of the surrounding area

Building Sher-Dor Madrasah. Look at the following photos of information discovered about the facad of the building.

Also there are images of tigers with the sun on their backs on each side of the arch. Also you can see an image of a swastika from ancient times. .

Another view of the Shor-Dor Madrasah. In the center of the arch above the entrance there is the image of swastika, which from ancient times was the symbol of abundance and fertility.

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