Uzbek legends. Plan: Introduction

Charter II.Uzbek legends connected with historical places and items.
2.1The legends regions (Kirk-kiz, Bibi Khanym)
The legend of Kirk Kiz.
For millennia, people have made legends of fearless Amazons. Many armies fled from warlike maidens. A Kirk Kiz Girl Squad stayed in the fortress of Kirk Kiz Tepe. Enemies surrounded the walls of the fortress and began to siege the castle. Brave girls, led by their leader Gauhar defended the fortress. Countless days and nights they repulsed the enemy’s attack. Many enemies were killed on the battlefield. Detachment of girls also sustained heavy losses. Only Gauhar and some girls survived, but help did not come. They prepared to defend the city.
The fortress was burning, groans and cries were heard in flames of fire, the walls were destroyed. Girls lost any hope. But Gauhar, having collected all remaining arrows, neatly hit enemies. When the arrows ended, Gauhar, mortally wounded, left the fortress. The soldiers of the enemy became rigid. Gauhar slowly stood up, a bloody helmet fell down from her head and luxurious tresses fell down on the armor. The girl raised her sword and with said: "My name is Gauhar, my squad of girls was killed in the battle, and I call your commander to a duel".The image and architecture of the fortress Kirk Kiz

The fortress Kirk Kiz (40 girls) is a very interesting architectural and historical monument. This building is square in shape with brick walls of 54 meters in length. From all sides the construction was protected by powerful towers. The building is crossed crosswise in two passes and divides it into four equal parts. In the middle of the structure is a small inner courtyard (11.5x11.5 m), which according to some scientists was covered with a dome. According to other scientists it was open.
When you examine the ruins of the fortress, you are involuntarily surprised at the diversity of the masonry of arches, domes, and the complex architectural design of walls, interiors, friezes, niches, and fissures. Scientists consider the complex Kirk Kiz a museum that tells about the search of architects of the early Middle Ages, their peculiar style and unsurpassed skill. Time did not spare the structure open to all the elements, it did not preserve the names of the architects who managed to create from the usual clay a beautiful song to human talent. The plaster has fallen from the walls, but there are still traces of intricate painting on the arches of the ceilings. Despite this, even the ruins and the rest of the former magnificence amaze the imagination of our contemporaries with its uniqueness and beauty of architecture. According to medieval chroniclers, Kirk Kiz could be the ancestral castle of the Samanid dynasty (I X-X centuries). What was happening inside this building remained a mystery. It was just known that forty girls lived and worked here. This is confirmed by the research of the famous scientist S. Khmelnitsky, who, having thoroughly studied the internal architecture of the building, concluded that it was built especially for girls.
It can be assumed that Kirk Kiz was an educational institution for girls (like a female gymnasium), which under the guidance of their mentor - Ruhaida binti Varrok, studied algebra, astronomy and the Koran.
Ruhaida binti Varrok was very educated. This is evidenced by her medical treatise "Tabobati zanon" (Treatment of women). The glory of a woman-scientist spread throughout the East. Akhmad Usturlobi admires the example in his book "Ilmi Nujum". Having heard much good about Ruhaida, the Arab Caliph himself proposed to her to marry him. But, not accepting any violence and bloodshed, the preceptor was not afraid to deny the man under whose authority half of the Asian continent was. In her response letter she expressed everything that she thought about the caliph. Without superfluous epithets, Ruhaida condemned the Arab ruler as a supporter of exceptional rigidity in state affairs. She compared him to the wild boar, who destroys everything in his path. And herself - with the moon that brings light to the world. By this light she meant knowledge. A rather crude refusal was infuriated by the caliph. He sent a message, telling that he would destroy the town. It is not clear how this story ended. It is only known that after the caliph’s threats, Ruhaida binti Varrok, who decided not to jeopardize the life of the apprentices, allowed them to go homes. The gymnasium was closed. Probably, the gymnasium was destroyed.
The army responded with a roar of astonishment. No one fought with this mighty army as bravely as the girl squad did. The leader threw a piercing glance at the girl and whispered: "I’d like to have such men in my army". Leaping from his horse, he politely came up to Gauhar and carefully looked into her eyes. He realized that he would not occupy Samarkand, but would find his death there. The commander bowed his head and kissed the hand of Gauhar. Then he turned to his men and shouted: "I saw the pearl of Samarkand and it’s enough for me. Back home!" The army approved it and, saddling their horses, the riders shaded from view.
Brave Gauhar followed the last enemy soldier with her eyes and a smile of joy lit up her face when they disappeared over the horizon, leaving the land of Samarkand. At that point, the riders appeared out of the fortress hurrying to aid the Amazons. Gauhar bowed her head with relief and whispered: "Finally!" and fell flat on her back. All her body was wounded. Closing her eyes she remembered her parents: how mother cooked bread and father told fairy tales, how her sister and she ran to the market for sweets and her betrothed told of his love. It flashed before misty eyes of Gauhar and looking at the steppe, gardens and the city of Samarkand, the radiant joy lit up in the depths of her eyes. "The city is saved!" - a happy inspiration flashed across her mind.There are also many legends about this monument. They are mainly associated with the name of Gul-ayim. According to one of them, the women who lived in the fortress Kirk Kiz made a great contribution to the development of culture and science. These women were loyal patriots of their land, boldly repulsed the enemy attacks. In those days along with warriors-men women fought. They rallied in detachments of forty women, at the head of which was usually a brave, experienced combat tactics experienced warrior. The girls in such detachments had excellent weapons, were familiar with the combat technique, reconnaissance and guard duty. If one of the girls got married, another one took her place. One of such invincible women's groups, led by the beautiful Gul-ayim, the queen, who owned many sciences and languages, settled in the castle Kirk Kiz. Once upon the possession was attacked by foreign tribes. Many of the soldiers laid their heads on the battle field, the survivors of the conquerors were taken prisoner. Then the leader was assembled by a new army, consisting of forty girlfriends, as brave and beautiful as she was. Having worn battle armor and armed with swords, the Termez Amazons rushed into battle on quick horses. They managed to repel enemy pressure, but not for long. Because of the disparity of forces, the detachment began to suffer defeat from numerous enemy troops, and then, on the orders of Gul-ayim, the girls hid from the chase in an impregnable castle Kirk Kiz. And, as the legend says, at the moment when the enraged enemies began to destroy the castle, all the girls turned to pigeons and fled the castle. People nicknamed the castle Kirk Kiz (Forty Girls). Such is the beautiful legend about the palace Kirk Kiz of Termez. However, there is another very interesting version regarding the Termez fortress Kirk Kiz. According to the folk legend, once Termez was a big and noisy city, and was governed by a padishah, who had forty daughters. He lived, not knowing the worries, but once the sage allegedly came to the city from distant lands. He debated with the mullahs of the padishah and defeated them. And then the mullahs decided to take revenge on the stranger. They complained of the stranger, saying that a sage is defeating faith and that he must be killed. The padishah did not sort out, and ordered the sage to be burned, and the ashes to be thrown into the Amu Darya. But the river carried the ashes to the place where the forty daughters of the padishah bathed. They drank water from the river and swallowed the ashes of the sage. All the girls became pregnant. The padishah was very angry. He built a large fortress and imprisoned all the daughters. The fortress was called Kirk Kiz. Subsequently, in this fortress, forty Amazon girls led by the beautiful Gulaim bravely defended themselves from the conquerors.

The poetic name of the fortress “Kirk Kiz”, could not but excite the minds of the romantics of the time, because it was about the Woman. There were also other legends about the fortress, where women dominate.
Legend of Bibi-Khanym
The name of Bibi-Khanym Mosque is very poetic as well as a legend, related with its construction. By the legend the mosque was built by the Tamerlane's favorite wife, Bibi-Khanym, in honor of his return from a trip to India. According to her aim the mosque was planned to be the most grandiose creation of Samarkand. An architect, leading the construction of the mosque, fell madly in love with the beautiful queen, and delayed the completion of work in any possible way. Bibi Khanum was furious with the delay, as Timur had to come back very soon and the building still was not ready. When the queen asked the architect to hurry with the construction of the mosque, the architect stated a condition that the building would be ready in time, if she allowed him to kiss her.
The name of the mosque - Bibi Khanum - is very poetic, as is the legend associated with its construction. According to legend, Bibi Khanum, the beloved wife of Timur, built the mosque in honor of the return of her husband from a campaign in India. According to her plan, the mosque was to become the most ambitious creation of Samarkand. The architect, who directed the construction of the mosque, fell madly in love with the beautiful queen and in every possible way delayed the completion of the work. Bibi Khanum was furious at this delay, since Timur was due to return very soon, and the building was still not ready. When the queen demanded that the architect hurry up with the construction of the mosque, the architect set a condition for her: the building would be ready on time if she allowed him to kiss her.In response, the queen ordered the servant to bring eggs painted in different colors, and said to the architect: “Look at these eggs. Only in appearance they are all different, but inside they are the same. Such are we women! I can give you any of the slaves you wish”. Then the architect asked to bring two glasses: one of them he filled with water, and the other with white wine: “Look at these glasses - they look the same. But if I drink one, I won’t feel anything; if I drink another, it will burn me. That is love”! So the queen had to agree with the conditions of the impudent architect, but his kiss was so passionate that a bright trace remained on the gentle cheek of Bibi Khanum. Timur returned from the campaign. He was delighted with the gift of his wife - a majestic cathedral mosque, which was completed by the architect on time, but a kiss on the cheek of his beloved wife attracted his attention.It is not known for certain how this story ended. According to one of the common versions, Timur killed the architect and ordered to bury him in the underground mausoleum, where he placed his library. After Timur’s death, this library passed to Ulugbek, who expanded it significantly, but after his death, it disappeared without a trace.In response, the queen ordered the servant to bring eggs painted in different colors and said to the architect: "Look at these eggs. They are all different only from outside, but inside they are the same. The same about women! I can give you any of my slaves at your choice ". Then the architect asked to bring two glasses, one of them he filled with water, and the other one with white wine: "Look at these glasses. They have the same appearance. But if I drink first one, I will not feel anything, if I drink another one, it will burn me. The same about the love".
The queen had to agree with the terms of an impudent architect, but his kiss was so hot, that it left a bright trace on the tender cheek of Bibi Khanym. Timur returned from the successful trip. He was delighted with a gift of his wife: a majestic cathedral mosque which was completed on time by the architect, but he could not help noticing a trace of the kiss on the cheek of his beloved wife...
It is unknown what was happened at the end of the story. According to one popular version Tamerlane killed the architect and ordered to bury him in an underground mausoleum, where he placed his library. After Tamerlane's death the library was transferred to Ulugbek, who enlarged it, but after his death it vanished into thin air...
This legend can be compared with the real facts. Elder wife of Tamerlane, Saray Mulk Khanum, with the husband’s permission decided to build a mosque next to the bazaar. The mosque of Bibi Khanym was built at the same time with the madrassah, built by the plan of Tamerlane himself. To make the mosque more majestic than the madrassah of Tamerlane, the queen ordered architects to erect the tallest building in the city. But an error in the project caused to the gradual destruction of the building. Today, the Bibi Khanym Mosque is one of the most popular places visited by tourists. Two years ago it was partially reconstructed.