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Section 2. Geography
Section 2. Geography
Berdiev Khayriddin Abdullayevich, Researcher-Tashkent state institute of oriental studies E-mail: bxa_68@mail.ru
The historical and natural-geographical aspects of Nurota
Abstract: According to the researchers and archaeologists Nurota city (Uzbekistan)was built in the ancient century and here is preserved ruins of fortressof Nurand — wall of "Pirosta" (IV-VI centuries).
Around the Nurota oasis there are famous Sarmishsoy (approximately 6,000 rock paintings), Uchtut antique stone workshop. The toponym of Nurota is formed around the water source — spring, giving the beam that reaches to the heavens, the earth that is not found elsewhere. "A ray of divine" rises to the sky from "Chashma", therefore curious tourists rush to see this unique appearance of nature.
Keywords: antique castle, ruins of "Nur" and "Pirosta", Sarmishsoy, toponym of Nur, Chashma, source of "giving ray", a place for tourists.
Toponymic objects and their names are valuable sources in the history of every nation. Uzbekistan is famous for one of the oldest sacred cities — Nurota. According to the archaeologists, Nurota city was built in the ancient century, and here are the ruins of the fortress Nur. The question of when there was a settlement Nur, has not yet been clarified.
The indigenous population of Central Asia, including Nurota, now speaks the languages belonging to two large language families: Altaic (Turkish languages) and the Indo-European (Iranian languages). The Tajik language, which is spoken by the vast radical Iranian-speaking population of the city Nurata refers to the western group of the Iranian languages. Nurota is known as Kalai Nur, "Nur of Bukhara" and Nurota. If we compare on the etymological comparisons Nurota city, the name "Kalai Nur" and the term "kala" means "fortified settlement on the hill" in Persian and means "castle on the hill" in Arabic [1, 42]. Thus, the term of "kala" — has many meanings, and they are close in meaning. Then it turns out that the name of Nur existed before the arrival of the Arabs.
Nur fortress is formed around a water source — spring Chashma, it is necessary for life inhabiting this area people. There are two historical phrase "nur" and "ata" in the name of "Nurota". According to the etymological meaning of the first of them — "Nur" is associated with the theological aspect — power like the dawn, the beam of light and heat, and the second — "ata" is giving a ray source of water and life, "sacred place."
"Nur" means "light" in Arabic. Local people say that the Tashkent is famous for an abundance of water and Bukhara is for its light. Before independence, Uzbekistan has used the term Nur Bukhara, according to archeological, architectural and epigraphic data (there is a speech about the sources of the Persian and Arabic languages), and it appeared in the study of the ancient city of Nurota.
The researching of the ancient city of Nur, located in the foothills of the Nurota range indicates that the chapel, mosque and madrasah repeatedly ruined fort during the Mongol yoke and again restored. Historical scientist Narshakhi says: "Nur is a vast area and it has a large mosque. The man, who visited to the area of Nur, equated to a person who has committed the Hajj. In honor of the returning from the holy place of worship human, city was colorfully decorated. In other areas of Nurata called "Nuri Bukhara". Many of
the followers of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad are buried here" [2, 81-82].
Written sources is not fully reflect the defense system of the settlement of Nur, but however it is possible to do the analysis, that the fortress of Nur was well strengthened on the basis of available data. As a result of the invasion of enemy forces Nur settlement was destroyed several times. Locals were forced to leave their homes, prayer facilities and restores their home. In studying the history of defensive structures Sources can be local toponym like a spring Nur, well of Nurgulata, Nurbulak. Therefore, to provide water to the population during the long siege of the fortress, in the fortifications were provided tools in the form of wells (well of Nurgulata) and spring water Chashma.
The people of the Stone Ageleft petroglyphic archaeological monuments, which is approximately 6,000 rock paintings in the mountains ofVaush (Karatau) in Sarmishsoy such as the Sahara (Africa), Altamira (Spain), cave drawings in France and other claims on outstanding rock painting in the world. In addition, there are petro-glyphs of Takatash and Zangibaba near the town of Nurota (approximately 6-8 km) in the mountains of Aktau. In this region, scientists and archaeologists have found the remains of ancient stone workshops in the mountains ofVaush (Tau) and the hill of Chakmaktube.
Proceedings of the archaeological studies indicate that tools found in this area, historical and cultural layer dates back to the Bronze Age. The research results indicate that the center of the ancient settlement was a place ofworship and conduct ceremonies. At this point, to this day remains of the defensive wall of the fortress Nurota — Pirosta wall. According to the issuing of the Uzbek researcher and archaeologist Yahyo Gulomov (1908-1977), the wall of Pirosta was built in the IV century BC and lasted until the reign of the Samanid dynasty (X century), and for 400 years served as a line of defense. Archaeological excavations of the ancient city ruins Nur showed that around the body of water source "Chashma" people lived in ancient times. According to Y. G. Gulomov in the distant past, access to the valley of Zarafshan was possible only through a mountain gorge ofIlon-Otti in Jizzakh city and through the Nur (Nurota), so Jizzakh and Nur as the maj or shopping sites and military-strategic points since ancient times been protected by powerful fortifications [3, 133].
According to other scientists — V. V. Bartold, Y. G. Gulomov, V. A. Shishkin, B. H. Karmyschev, H. Mukhamedov, L. Y. Mankovsky,
The historical and natural-geographical aspects of Nurota
V. A. Nielsen, L. I. Rempel, O. M. Rostovtsev, the Nurota was the second Islamic center of the statein Bukhara Emirate in the XV-XIX century.
Nurota famous ancient and eternally alive the unique architectural and natural-geographic monuments. This city is evidence of active trade and economic contacts of the Middle Ages, keeps a "secret" stories that have yet to uncover. Until now, no one knows why the times of spring "Chashma" rises to the sky, "a ray of the divine", therefore the most of tourists are hurrying to see this unusual appearance of nature.
In the folk legends and stories repeatedly mentioned that here arrived with his legions of the great military leader Alexander the Great. One day early in the morning, Alexander wanted to mow her hair and ordered to find a good local hairdresser master. Local master treated Alexander with tortilla after the breakfast, which they ate together. Hairdresser saw two horns on the head of the commander during the haircut. To this mystery is not to disclose the Great wanted to cut off the head of a barber. But the barber told him that thetortilla made from the milk of his mother's breast, and added that they are family. After that, the Great ordered the barber to take an oath that the mystery will reveal it to anyone. Master vowed andhe didn't tell anyone about this secret until the end of his life, but one day he came to one of the wells, which grew reeds and sentenced this mystery. Barber died, many years have passed and the local shepherds (the shepherds) of dewdrops reeds prepared local nay (whistle). And because the whistle went deep rhythmic ringing that Iskandar (Alexander) had two horns." After this event, the well named "Iskandarquduq". This a well on the outskirts of the city there to the present and in front of the locals becomes a "sacred place."
The legends of Nurata oasis associated with Alexander of Macedon also, preserved in the place-objects — Iskandarquduq, Iskandarkul Zulmkyariz. The city's name was Nurota commercial
and strategic significance for the wide spread of Islam and Islamic traditions. Therefore, there is a "divine ray" in Nurata, which reaches up to the heavens, the earth, which is nowhere to be found, and this city is famous for the world's Muslims is considered a sacred place of pilgrimage.
According to sources of the Middle Ages there are ancient and unique remains of hydraulic structures kyarizes about 300 (VII-XII centuries) in a mountain of Nurota. One of the ways ofGreat Silk Road paths crossed was the ancient city ofNur, because the city was very important strategic object on the road from Bukhara to Jizzakh.
As for the name of the object of Nur, it is likely Arabized transformation of the ancient name of the object. Unfortunately substrate of the name has not been preserved. According to M. Iskhakova center of the ancient city of Nur was a place of worship and conduct ceremonies. In it concluded primitive people's ideas about the integrity of the universe, and their despair, the myths about green fragrant vast pastures of the well-fed and fat cattle, fed with moisture on the endless expanse of cultivated so forth [4, 63]. But before the arrival of the Arabs in Zoroastrian religion Mithra (god of fertility) » Mehr (sun-light, the dawn) » Ishtra associated with divine light, effulgence. This meaning has led to the fact that the image ofMithra merged with an image of the sun. In fact, Mithra is an independent deity in Zoroastrian tradition, genetically much older than in relation to the time Zoroastrian canon [5, 18].
Currently, the place of pilgrimage to the Nurota comes every year thousands of tourists. The city preserved the architectural and historical buildings, such as the famous old spring «Chashma» mosque of «Chilustun» (Forty-column) (IX-XX centuries), the Mosque of «Big Dome», «Sayidota», «Oqmasjid», «Bargsuz» (end of the XIX century), sauna of «Sudur Bobo». Nurota has been a particularly important strategic cultural facility for Muslims for thousands of years.
This city is evidence of active trade and economic contacts of that, the city was a particularly important strategic cultural centerfor
the Middle Ages and keeps itself a "secret" history.
Thus, according to the value of the historical and natural-geographic aspects of Nurota we can make conclusions following items:
- Stored architectural structures in the city of Nurota, including the wall of "Pirosta" (IV-X c) "Kalai Nur" (X-XIX cc) shows
many centuries;
Nurota was the second center of Islamic rites and customsin the Emirate of Bukhara for thousands of years.
- Settlement of Nurremains "secret" passages of history itself, which has yet to be disclosed with its unique natural phenomenon, such as "Chashma" and the Mosque of "Chilustun", "Pyandzhvahta".
References:
1. Rozenfeld A. Z. Qala -sort of Iranian location with castle//«Sovet Etnography», 1951, - № 1. - P. 42.
2. Narshakhi. History of Bukhara. - Tashkent: «Kamalak», 1991. - P. 81-82.
3. Gulyamov Y. G. Nur Bukhara//Ethnography and Archeology of Central Asia - Moscow: «Sience», 1979 - P.133.
4. Iskhakov M. Avesto and its effect on the development of our life. - Tashkent - Urgench, 2001. - P. 63.
5. Avesto: The book of Yasht. Translated by Mirsadik Iskhakov. - Tashkent: Orient 2001, - P. 18.
