Registan Square: Cultural Symbol Of Samarkand – OpEd
Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city stands among Roma and Athens with its 2750-year history. Samarkand has always been the crossroads of cultures for many centuries. During Abbasid, Samanid, Karakhanid eras, a lot of architectural structures were erected in the city. However, the city was destroyed by Gengis Khan during the first half of the thirteenth century. In 1370, Amir Timur established the Timurid Empire which started the new chapter in the history of the city. Amir Timur brought the most talented architects and builders all over his empire to Samarkand and changed the city’s image. Today, Samarkand is once again the cultural symbol of Central Asia.
The Eiffel tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York, each city has its cultural symbol. The cultural symbol of Samarkand is Registan Square. The word Registan means “sandy place”. The history of the name comes from ancient times when people of Samarkand used to live in Afrasiab hills. A river near the city changed its direction, causing a sandy area in its previous route. Registan turned into a social center of Samarkand during the Arab leadership. People opened their shops and stalls around the square.
The architectural formation of Registan Square began during the reign of Mirzo Ulugbek (1394-1449). The great astrologer and scientist Mirzo Ulugbek, who ruled Samarkand for 40 years (1409-1449), spared nothing in the improvement of this city. According to the decree of Mirzo Ulugbek, the construction of a luxurious madrasa began on the west side of Tuman Agha Timi. This madrasa, completed in 1420, was admired by its contemporaries for its strength and beauty. Four tall minarets were built at the four corners of the madrasa. In the inner courtyard of the madrasa, several comfortable and cosy rooms and classrooms were built by highly skilled architects. Also, the inner and outer walls of the madrasa were decorated with colourful tiles.
Mirzo Ulugbek also built a huge palace and a magnificent caravanserai in Registan. For this, old buildings were levelled. Apart from these, Mirzo Ulugbek also built a new hammam (a place of public bathing) near the caravanserai. This structure, known as Mirza Hammami, had a special place in the architecture of the Timurid period with its architectural solutions. According to Mirza Babur, this kind of wonderful hammam was the only one in Movarounnahr and Khorasan.
After the Timurids, the Shaibanis, who sat on the throne of Samarkand, also did great things in the improvement of this city. According to the historian Hafiz Tanish Bukhari, Abdulla Khan ordered the repair of architectural monuments in Samarkand twice in 1581 and 1587, and a lot of money was spent for this purpose.
At the beginning of the 17th century, Registan Square became a huge construction site. On the square, the governor of Samarkand, Yalangtosh Bahadir, (emir of Samarkand between 1626-1656) built two madrasas. The construction of the Sherdor Madrasa, which stood on the opposite side of the Ulugbek Madrasa, began in 1619. The architects who created the project of this madrasa tried to make it similar to the Ulugbek Madrasa. Because of this, the height of the pediment, blue domes, and salubrious minarets of the Sherdor Madrasah all resemble the Ulugbek Madrasa. However, the tiles and decorations of the Sherdor Madrasah are unique.
The images of the tiger, carrying the human-faced sun on its back, and the hiccups and snarling deer on the facade of the Sherdor Madrasa add beauty to this madrasa. The names of master architect Abdul Jabbar, who built it, and master craftsman Muhammad Abbas, who created architectural decorations, are forever imprinted on the walls of the Sherdor Madrasa. On the walls of the madrasa, the name of the governor of Samarkand, Yalangtoshbiy Bahadir, who built it, and the hymn written in his name are preserved. At the time of its construction, this madrasa was called “Big Madrasa of Yalangtoshbi”. However, the name didn’t find its usage among people and documents. In later times it was called Sherdor.
The third madrasa built in Registan Square is the Tillakori Madrasa. This madrasa was also built by Yalangtosh Bahodur, and according to historical sources, it took 17 years to complete. By the 17th century, the Amir Timur Jami’ Mosque had become a ruin, and the Alika Kokaldosh Mosque in Registan was completely destroyed. Therefore, the people of Samarkand needed a new mosque. Yalantushbi Bahadur, who understood this well, decided to integrate a luxurious mosque in the newly built madrasa. The architects understood the ruler’s intention well and transferred it to the project. The courtyard of the madrasa was also built to make it convenient for those who come to pray there. A lot of gold was used to decorate the mosque and madrasa, so its walls were shining. For this reason, during the construction period, this madrasa was called “Tilakori” which means “gilded”.
Today, Registan has become the main square where important cultural events are held in the life of Uzbekistan. In 2001, these three madrasas were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
