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Section 2. Geography Section 2. Geography Berdiev Khayriddin Abdullayevich, Researcher‑Tashkent state institute of oriental studies E‑mail: [email protected] 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 work- shop. 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 the followers of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad are history of every nation. Uzbekistan is famous for one of the oldest buried here” [2, 81–82]. sacred cities — Nurota. According to the archaeologists, Nurota Written sources is not fully reflect the defense system of the settle- city was built in the ancient century, and here are the ruins of the ment of Nur, but however it is possible to do the analysis, that the fortress Nur. The question of when there was a settlement Nur, has fortress of Nur was well strengthened on the basis of available data. As not yet been clarified. a result of the invasion of enemy forces Nur settlement was destroyed The indigenous population of Central Asia, including Nurota, several times. Locals were forced to leave their homes, prayer facilities now speaks the languages belonging to two large language families: and restores their home. In studying the history of defensive structures Altaic (Turkish languages) and the Indo-European (Iranian languag- Sources can be local toponym like a spring Nur, well of Nurgulata, es). The Tajik language, which is spoken by the vast radical Iranian- Nurbulak. Therefore, to provide water to the population during the speaking population of the city Nurata refers to the western group long siege of the fortress, in the fortifications were provided tools in of the Iranian languages. Nurota is known as Kalai Nur, “Nur of the form of wells (well of Nurgulata) and spring water Chashma. Bukhara” and Nurota. If we compare on the etymological compari- The people of the Stone Ageleft petroglyphic archaeological sons Nurota city, the name “Kalai Nur” and the term “kala” means monuments, which is approximately 6,000 rock paintings in the “fortified settlement on the hill” in Persian and means “castle on the mountains of Vaush (Karatau) in Sarmishsoy such as the Sahara (Af- hill” in Arabic [1, 42]. Thus, the term of “kala” — has many mean- rica), Altamira (Spain), cave drawings in France and other claims on ings, and they are close in meaning. Then it turns out that the name outstanding rock painting in the world. In addition, there are petro- of Nur existed before the arrival of the Arabs. glyphs of Takatash and Zangibaba near the town of Nurota (approxi- Nur fortress is formed around a water source — spring Chash- mately 6–8 km) in the mountains of Aktau. In this region, scientists ma, it is necessary for life inhabiting this area people. There are two and archaeologists have found the remains of ancient stone work- historical phrase “nur” and “ata” in the name of “Nurota”. According shops in the mountains of Vaush (Tau) and the hill of Chakmaktube. to the etymological meaning of the first of them — “Nur” is associ- Proceedings of the archaeological studies indicate that tools ated with the theological aspect — power like the dawn, the beam found in this area, historical and cultural layer dates back to the Bronze of light and heat, and the second — “ata” is giving a ray source of Age. The research results indicate that the center of the ancient settle- water and life, “sacred place.” ment was a place of worship and conduct ceremonies. At this point, to “Nur” means “light” in Arabic. Local people say that the Tash- this day remains of the defensive wall of the fortress Nurota — Pirosta kent is famous for an abundance of water and Bukhara is for its light. wall. According to the issuing of the Uzbek researcher and archaeolo- Before independence, Uzbekistan has used the term Nur Bukha- gist Yahyo Gulomov (1908–1977), the wall of Pirosta was built in ra, according to archeological, architectural and epigraphic data the IV century BC and lasted until the reign of the Samanid dynasty (there is a speech about the sources of the Persian and Arabic lan- (X century), and for 400 years served as a line of defense. Archaeo- guages), and it appeared in the study of the ancient city of Nurota. logical excavations of the ancient city ruins Nur showed that around The researching of the ancient city of Nur, located in the foot- the body of water source “Chashma” people lived in ancient times. hills of the Nurota range indicates that the chapel, mosque and According to Y. G. Gulomov in the distant past, access to the valley of madrasah repeatedly ruined fort during the Mongol yoke and again Zarafshan was possible only through a mountain gorge of Ilon-Otti in restored. Historical scientist Narshakhi says: “Nur is a vast area Jizzakh city and through the Nur (Nurota), so Jizzakh and Nur as the and it has a large mosque. The man, who visited to the area of Nur, major shopping sites and military-strategic points since ancient times equated to a person who has committed the Hajj. In honor of the been protected by powerful fortifications [3, 133]. returning from the holy place of worship human, city was colorfully According to other scientists — V. V. Bartold, Y. G. Gulomov, decorated. In other areas of Nurata called “Nuri Bukhara”. Many of V. A. Shishkin, B. H. Karmyschev, H. Mukhamedov, L. Y. Mankovsky, 12 The historical and natural-geographical aspects of Nurota V. A. Nielsen, L. I. Rempel, O. M. Rostovtsev, the Nurota was the and strategic significance for the wide spread of Islam and Islamic second Islamic center of the statein Bukhara Emirate in the XV–XIX traditions. Therefore, there is a “divine ray” in Nurata, which reaches century. up to the heavens, the earth, which is nowhere to be found, and this Nurota famous ancient and eternally alive the unique archi- city is famous for the world’s Muslims is considered a sacred place tectural and natural-geographic monuments. This city is evidence of pilgrimage. of active trade and economic contacts of the Middle Ages, keeps a According to sources of the Middle Ages there are ancient and “secret” stories that have yet to uncover. Until now, no one knows unique remains of hydraulic structures kyarizes about 300 (VII–XII why the times of spring “Chashma” rises to the sky, “a ray of the centuries) in a mountain of Nurota. One of the ways of Great Silk Road divine”, therefore the most of tourists are hurrying to see this un- paths crossed was the ancient city of Nur, because the city was very im- usual appearance of nature. portant strategic object on the road from Bukhara to Jizzakh. In the folk legends and stories repeatedly mentioned that here As for the name of the object of Nur, it is likely Arabized trans- arrived with his legions of the great military leader Alexander the formation of the ancient name of the object. Unfortunately substrate Great. One day early in the morning, Alexander wanted to mow of the name has not been preserved. According to M. Iskhakova cen- her hair and ordered to find a good local hairdresser master. Local ter of the ancient city of Nur was a place of worship and conduct master treated Alexander with tortilla after the breakfast, which they ceremonies. In it concluded primitive people’s ideas about the in- ate together. Hairdresser saw two horns on the head of the com- tegrity of the universe, and their despair, the myths about green mander during the haircut. To this mystery is not to disclose the fragrant vast pastures of the well-fed and fat cattle, fed with moisture Great wanted to cut off the head of a barber. But the barber told on the endless expanse of cultivated so forth [4, 63]. But before the him that thetortilla made from the milk of his mother’s breast, and arrival of the Arabs in Zoroastrian religion Mithra (god of fertility) added that they are family. After that, the Great ordered the barber to ≈ Mөһr (sun-light, the dawn) ≈ Ishtra associated with divine light, take an oath that the mystery will reveal it to anyone. Master vowed effulgence. This meaning has led to the fact that the image of Mithra andhe didn’t tell anyone about this secret until the end of his life, merged with an image of the sun. In fact, Mithra is an independent but one day he came to one of the wells, which grew reeds and sen- deity in Zoroastrian tradition, genetically much older than in rela- tenced this mystery. Barber died, many years have passed and the tion to the time Zoroastrian canon [5, 18]. local shepherds (the shepherds) of dewdrops reeds prepared local Currently, the place of pilgrimage to the Nurota comes every nay (whistle). And because the whistle went deep rhythmic ringing year thousands of tourists. The city preserved the architectural and that Iskandar (Alexander) had two horns.” After this event, the well historical buildings, such as the famous old spring «Chashma» named “Iskandarquduq”.

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