“Registan” was the name of a central square in any Middle East city. This word consists of two parts: “reg” which means “sand” and “stan” which means “a place”. But how is a central square related to sand? According to one version, sand was used for sprinkling stones after public executions. According to another, more peaceful, version, the land here was strewn with sand to secure the nearby main water supply canal.
Samarkand’s Registan Square is famous for its unique ensemble, which is considered one of the best masterpieces of Islamic architecture in the world. The center of this ensemble boasts three madrasas — Muslim institutions of higher education built in the typical oriental style. They are magnificent monuments of oriental architecture. This architectural ensemble is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In the 15th century, Ulugbek began to decorate the square. The first building of Registan Square was Ulugbek madrasa. In the 17th century, Yalangtoʻsh Bahodir ordered to construct large Yalangtoʻsh madrasa, which was later renamed to Sher-Dor (“a house decorated with lions”). This building has been under construction for 17 years. The madrasa stands strictly on the axis of the Ulugbek madrasa and replicates its facade.
Tillakori madrasa, which was built by Yalangtoʻsh Bahodir already in his declining years, completed the northern part of the ensemble. Since both cathedral mosques of Samarkand were abandoned by that time, builders faced a difficult task of embedding the Friday Mosque in the madrasa.
In addition, Registan also features Chorsu — an ancient trading dome that proves the status of Registan Square as a trading center of medieval Samarkand. In 1989, a five-ruble commemorative coin dedicated to Registan was minted in the USSR.
Samarkand’s Registan Square is famous for its unique ensemble, which is considered one of the best masterpieces of Islamic architecture in the world. The center of this ensemble boasts three madrasas — Muslim institutions of higher education built in the typical oriental style. They are magnificent monuments of oriental architecture. This architectural ensemble is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In the 15th century, Ulugbek began to decorate the square. The first building of Registan Square was Ulugbek madrasa. In the 17th century, Yalangtoʻsh Bahodir ordered to construct large Yalangtoʻsh madrasa, which was later renamed to Sher-Dor (“a house decorated with lions”). This building has been under construction for 17 years. The madrasa stands strictly on the axis of the Ulugbek madrasa and replicates its facade.
Tillakori madrasa, which was built by Yalangtoʻsh Bahodir already in his declining years, completed the northern part of the ensemble. Since both cathedral mosques of Samarkand were abandoned by that time, builders faced a difficult task of embedding the Friday Mosque in the madrasa.
In addition, Registan also features Chorsu — an ancient trading dome that proves the status of Registan Square as a trading center of medieval Samarkand. In 1989, a five-ruble commemorative coin dedicated to Registan was minted in the USSR.