According to the legend recorded in Narshahi’s History of Bukhara, after Bukhar-khudat
Bidun built up and fortified the walls of the fortress, he began to build a palace, but
his attempt was unsuccessful: the building suddenly collapsed when it was almost
completed. The conqueror of Bukhara, and likewise the court sages, long pondered over the
reason for the failure, and at last decided to build the palace in the shape of the (Great
Bear) on the seven stone pillars.
The overall area of the fortress with
all palaces, buildings, and fortifications is 34,675 square meters. Before there were two
gates, at present time, only the western gate, which was restored in 1921-1923, remains.
From the most ancient times the Ark was the fortified residence of the rulers of
Bukhara. Everything could be found there - palaces, temples, barracks, offices, the mint,
warehouses, workshops, stables, an arsenal, and even a prison. Nowadays there is a
museum inside.
During the history of existence of the city, the Ark was repeatedly destroyed, but
it was invariably restored by the new ruler. In the 16 century under the Shaibanids, the
citadel was restored to the form in which it has come down to us. All the buildings on the
territory of the Ark were built for the most part from the 17th to the
20th centuries.
You will pass a long covered corridor with 12 niches in the left wall and
thirteen in the right. Some of the ones on the left were a special type of prison. Here
“Criminals” who
did not agree with the rulers of the emirate and dangerous free thinkers were kept.
A huge leather whip - the symbol of the absolute power of the emir -
is hung by the
entrance to the citadel. During the storming of the Ark in September 1920, this whip was
torn down by the insurgents. Today it can be seen in the Bukhara Local History Museum
which is situated in one of the buildings of the Ark.
At the place where the covered corridor ends, stands the office of the commandant, who
was in
charge of the guards.
Coming out of the corridor and turning to the right you will see
Juma Mosque,
which was built at the end of the 18 century. Not far from the mosque, there was once a
place for the servants to eat, and the mint where coins were minted and paper money
printed was behind the eating place. To the northeast of the mint is the palace of
the prime
minister (kushbegi), which has come down to our day. It is separated by a narrow corridor
from the throne hall where various court ceremonies, such as the
reception of foreign
ambassadors and the coronation of the emir were held. Only the cobbled
courtyard, a part of
the aywan (the awnings on the wooden columns), the columns themselves, and the emir’s
throne trimmed in marble remain.
Not far from the main courtyard were the guest rooms and quarters for
Koran readers, and in the basement under the quarters, stood the Treasury. The stables were by the west
wall, and next to them was a vault where carpets were stored. Further there was an audience
chamber (salom - khona) where the emir received visitors and listened to the reports of
his officials. Next to this chamber were guest rooms, bedrooms, and other apartments for
the emir and his servants, the harem, and houses for the noble, close relatives of the emir,
who were pretenders to the throne and lived under house arrest.
Archeological excavations are constantly being conducted along the eastern section
of the fortress. Archeologists have found remnants of the foundation, sooty flues, and
heating passages built under the floors with outlets of ceramic pipe which allow
researchers to suggest that there was once a secret water-supply system in case of siege.
This supports the theory that there was a secret well in the Ark from which water was
drawn be underground water lines from a pond to the south of the fortress. |
Ancient and
Medieval History