The Registan Square
The Registan was the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand of the Timurid dynasty, now in Uzbekistan. The name Registan means “Sandy place” in Persian. It was a public square, where people gathered to hear…
Shah-i Zinda Necropolis
The Shah-i Zinda (lit. “the Living King”) is a funerary complex, located on the south side of the Afrasiyab hill in the city of Samarqand. The focal point of the complex is the…
From Cuneiform to Topkapi
In the Islamic world, where reading and literacy have always been highly prized for the access they provide to the word of God and the world of knowledge, books were objects of both…
Splendid Suzanis
Suzani comes from the Persian word for “needle,” and the word refers to embroidered hangings or fabric coverings, generally a meter and a half wide (4-5′) but sometimes much more. The birthplace of suzanis…
Bukhara – History and Architecture
Oasis city in the Republic of Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Bukhara is located in the valley of the Zeravshan river 200 km west of Samarkand. The city was first mentioned by its present name…
Islamic Art – a slideshow presentation
This is a show that was designed for a photo presentation in the Pennsylvania State University. The photos are from Uzbekistan, Samarkand and Bukhara. All of them represent some of the master pieces…
