Samarkand, Uzbekistan, October 2009
Rukhabad Mausoleum, the oldest building in Samarkand, built in 1380.
The Registan complex, a group of madrassahs and associated buildings. The one on the left, built by Uleg Bek between 1417 and 1420, is today structurally and decoratively in better condition than the other two madressahs, built two centuries later. People came from all over Asia to study here, particularly at Uleg Bek's madrassah.
Interior courtyard of Uleg Bek Madrassah. The doorways lead to lecture and dormitory rooms.
Large hall (originally for lectures? worship?) in Uleg Bek Madrassah.
Sher Dor Madrasah in the Registan complex.
Tillya Kori Madrassah in the Registan complex. The tiger-looking creatures in mosaic tile above the doorway flout the Muslim prohibition against representational art. We were told they were intended to be lions, but were created by artists who had no concept of what a lion looked like.
Interior of Tillya Kori Madrassah.
Entrance to Bibi Khanum Mosque.
Walking street running between the Registan and the market.
A mix of old and new: from the market end of the walking street you see old buildings, one end of a huge graveyard, parts of the modern city, and the taxi and mini-bus stop for the market.
A recently (within the last 50 years) renovated mosque near the market.
Entrance to Amir Timur (Tamerlane) mausoleum.
Ceramic tilework at Amir Timor mausoleum.
Grave markers in Amir Timur mausoleum. Amir Timur's marker is the dark one, Uleg Bek's marker is the narrow light-colored one to the left of Amir Timur's. The actual graves are in a crypt under the building.
Dome at Amir Timur mausoleum.
Amir Timur considers his city.
Rukhabad Mausoleum, the oldest building in Samarkand, built in 1380.
The Registan complex, a group of madrassahs and associated buildings. The one on the left, built by Uleg Bek between 1417 and 1420, is today structurally and decoratively in better condition than the other two madressahs, built two centuries later. People came from all over Asia to study here, particularly at Uleg Bek's madrassah.
Interior courtyard of Uleg Bek Madrassah. The doorways lead to lecture and dormitory rooms.
Large hall (originally for lectures? worship?) in Uleg Bek Madrassah.
Sher Dor Madrasah in the Registan complex.
Tillya Kori Madrassah in the Registan complex. The tiger-looking creatures in mosaic tile above the doorway flout the Muslim prohibition against representational art. We were told they were intended to be lions, but were created by artists who had no concept of what a lion looked like.
Interior of Tillya Kori Madrassah.
Entrance to Bibi Khanum Mosque.
Walking street running between the Registan and the market.
A mix of old and new: from the market end of the walking street you see old buildings, one end of a huge graveyard, parts of the modern city, and the taxi and mini-bus stop for the market.
A recently (within the last 50 years) renovated mosque near the market.
Entrance to Amir Timur (Tamerlane) mausoleum.
Ceramic tilework at Amir Timor mausoleum.
Grave markers in Amir Timur mausoleum. Amir Timur's marker is the dark one, Uleg Bek's marker is the narrow light-colored one to the left of Amir Timur's. The actual graves are in a crypt under the building.
Dome at Amir Timur mausoleum.
Amir Timur considers his city.