Takhti Sangin
Man-made, Cultural, Temple
Takhti Sangin is one of the famous historical site in Tajikistan. It is situated 34 km far from Qabodiyon district at the confluence of two rivers i.e., Vakhsh and Panj. Thе origin of the site is traced back to IV century B.C. and III century A.C. The total area of this site is 75 hectares. Takhti Sangin is mentioned among the nine sites that Tajikistan nominated for the list of the UNESCO’s World Heritage. Geographically, Takhti Sangin is located in the Wakhsh Valley, which is a complex zone of historical and cultural sites.
The construction the city of Takhti Sangin dates back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC and it architecture was embodiment of Persian and later Hellenistic culture. This ancient city was surrounded by walls, and its central streets were paved by the stoma. Two monumental buildings: the OxusTemple and the large administrative building were functioning in the center ofthe city during the Graeco-Bactrian period/ This town flourished as an administrative, trade, and worship centre with a beautiful Zoroastrian templein the Achaemenid period. It is assumedthat the Kushansseized the area in 130 BC. The site was gradually destroyed during their rule. There was a strongly fortified citadel with the seize of (165 x 235 meters in this ancient town. The Temple of Oxes" (Greek geographical name of Amu-Daria river) existed in the center of the city. The temple was built in the III century B.C. and was used until the III-IV centuries. It is believed that the temple was built for the God of Vakhsh-Oshkho’s river.
A four-columned White Hall (12x12 m ) existed within the temple. Its walls were 5 meters high. The White Hall was surrounded with corridors from south, west and north. The entrance of the White Hall was on the eastern side.
The WhiteHouse was flanked on both sides by symmetrical rooms (ateshgah), fireplace. According to researchers, the sacred fire was kept in the White Hall and the portico. Several stone altars made in the Hellenistic tradition existed there. The altar itself was in the main new building, the passage to which went through the aivan. There was a portico with two rows of columns, in front of the entrance. The portico was surrounded with rooms from the south and the north. One of these rooms had an entrance to the aiwan (summer-house). A temple yard existed on t the eastern side of the portico. Later the portico was separated with the thick brick walls. The columns of the temple were
Six meters high and based on the stepped pedestals and resembled to the columns in the beautiful cities in the ancient Athens.
Large stone compound existed in one angle of the White Hall that served as the local altars. The high columns of the temple were decorated and there were statues fixed on special pedestals. Fragments of sculptures found in the temple once adorned the building and its treasury. Some sculpture such Marsya playingthe flute deservespecial attention. A Bactrian named Atrosok (whosename translates as "burning with sacred fire") ruled the placethe II century BC and left an inscription in Greek one of the stone, which means, ‘by a vow Atrosok dedicated himself to Oxus’.
The construction the city of Takhti Sangin dates back to the 4th-3rd centuries BC and it architecture was embodiment of Persian and later Hellenistic culture. This ancient city was surrounded by walls, and its central streets were paved by the stoma. Two monumental buildings: the OxusTemple and the large administrative building were functioning in the center ofthe city during the Graeco-Bactrian period/ This town flourished as an administrative, trade, and worship centre with a beautiful Zoroastrian templein the Achaemenid period. It is assumedthat the Kushansseized the area in 130 BC. The site was gradually destroyed during their rule. There was a strongly fortified citadel with the seize of (165 x 235 meters in this ancient town. The Temple of Oxes" (Greek geographical name of Amu-Daria river) existed in the center of the city. The temple was built in the III century B.C. and was used until the III-IV centuries. It is believed that the temple was built for the God of Vakhsh-Oshkho’s river.
A four-columned White Hall (12x12 m ) existed within the temple. Its walls were 5 meters high. The White Hall was surrounded with corridors from south, west and north. The entrance of the White Hall was on the eastern side.
The WhiteHouse was flanked on both sides by symmetrical rooms (ateshgah), fireplace. According to researchers, the sacred fire was kept in the White Hall and the portico. Several stone altars made in the Hellenistic tradition existed there. The altar itself was in the main new building, the passage to which went through the aivan. There was a portico with two rows of columns, in front of the entrance. The portico was surrounded with rooms from the south and the north. One of these rooms had an entrance to the aiwan (summer-house). A temple yard existed on t the eastern side of the portico. Later the portico was separated with the thick brick walls. The columns of the temple were
Six meters high and based on the stepped pedestals and resembled to the columns in the beautiful cities in the ancient Athens.
Large stone compound existed in one angle of the White Hall that served as the local altars. The high columns of the temple were decorated and there were statues fixed on special pedestals. Fragments of sculptures found in the temple once adorned the building and its treasury. Some sculpture such Marsya playingthe flute deservespecial attention. A Bactrian named Atrosok (whosename translates as "burning with sacred fire") ruled the placethe II century BC and left an inscription in Greek one of the stone, which means, ‘by a vow Atrosok dedicated himself to Oxus’.
The result of the extensive investigations in Takht Sangin and its surrounding area amount to more than 5 thousands items. The works of arts that were discovered in the site include: a) metal (gold, silver,bronze, iron), ivory, alabaster, stone, glass, and clay; b) types of weapon arrowheads, javelins, swords, daggers, etc. Items made of ivory also and include handles of knives, swords, sheaths, and relief pictures. Hundreds items made from silver, mud and ivory can be seen among the many archaeological discoveries in this famous site. One of these items is the image of Alexander the Great that was craftedfrom ivory and resembled half God and half-human. These discoveries representthe specific pattern of Hellenistic art. Based on the analysis of the architecture, and artefacts of Takhti Sangin, and similar temples in Persepolis, archaeologist concluded that such type of construction goes back to earlier times. This temple, revered by the Bactriansis a sample of the synthesis of the arts and skills of Eastern Iranian, Achaemenid and Greek traditions. Some of the discovered items are kept in National Museum, some in Archaeological Museum of the Institute of History of Tajikistan, Bokhtar city museum, and in Qubodiyon district museum/ The history of how the treasures from there reached the British Museum is itself an interesting example of the rich civilisation that flourished in Central Asia. The treasure that was discovered by residents in the 19th century sold it to the Indian merchants. The caravan of traders were captured by the robbers from Kabul to Peshawar. British political officer in Afghanistan, Captain Francis Charles Burton immediately took an action to acquire the parts of treasure from the robbers, who had already fought between themselves over. Burlon returned the treasure to the merchants, and they gave him a bracelet, which he sold Victoria and Albert Museum (now on loan to the British Museum) for £1,000 in 1884. Subsequently, sold the rest of the treasure in Rawalpindi. Britisharchaeologists, who visited the treasure site in 1877, acquired many pieces from the sellers. Cunningham acquiredmany of these pieces and his collection were bought and bequeathed to the BritishMuseum in 1897. Some other findings from the Oxus Temple such as incomplete model chariot and a detached figure of the rider were presented to the Viceroyof India by the British representative in Kabul at the time. These works of arts were also acquired by the The British museum in 1931, and in 1953 (See.
4 Curtis, John, "The Oxus Treasure in the British Museum", Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia, Vol. 10 (2004), pp.293–338)
It is believed that subsequent excavation in the site would unearth more unique finds about the synthesis of different artistic, production, rituals of worship in the ancient Bactria. Takhti Sangin with its reach Oxus Treasure does not reveal the rich cultural heritage, but the rich and pluralistic, and tolerant living environment in which the ancestors of the Tajik-the Eastern Iranians the Sogdians, Bactrians, Parthians, Sakas, Tochars encountered with Greeks, Kushan-Yuezhi, and Hephthalites in medieval ages.
These treasures found in Takhti Sangin are stored now in the British Museum. There are ruins of a large city Takhti Qubod which is not far from Takhti Sangin. The city has witnessed a period of Bactrian, Greco-Bactrian and Kushan periods. The Persian terminology in the names of the place where Takhti Sangin and Takhti Qubod exist suggest that these sites were a place of living, and shrines of Bactrians. It was in these sacred places that such a generous sacrifice, highly artistic products were offered on the altars, and to the Gods. Evidence for this reach ritual of sacrificing and worshipping is the 180 pieces of metalwork in gold and silver, 200 coins, that are preserved in the Oxus Temple collection in the British Museum to whom such beautiful products were donated (See following assets from the Oxus Treasure).
4 Curtis, John, "The Oxus Treasure in the British Museum", Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia, Vol. 10 (2004), pp.293–338)
It is believed that subsequent excavation in the site would unearth more unique finds about the synthesis of different artistic, production, rituals of worship in the ancient Bactria. Takhti Sangin with its reach Oxus Treasure does not reveal the rich cultural heritage, but the rich and pluralistic, and tolerant living environment in which the ancestors of the Tajik-the Eastern Iranians the Sogdians, Bactrians, Parthians, Sakas, Tochars encountered with Greeks, Kushan-Yuezhi, and Hephthalites in medieval ages.
These treasures found in Takhti Sangin are stored now in the British Museum. There are ruins of a large city Takhti Qubod which is not far from Takhti Sangin. The city has witnessed a period of Bactrian, Greco-Bactrian and Kushan periods. The Persian terminology in the names of the place where Takhti Sangin and Takhti Qubod exist suggest that these sites were a place of living, and shrines of Bactrians. It was in these sacred places that such a generous sacrifice, highly artistic products were offered on the altars, and to the Gods. Evidence for this reach ritual of sacrificing and worshipping is the 180 pieces of metalwork in gold and silver, 200 coins, that are preserved in the Oxus Temple collection in the British Museum to whom such beautiful products were donated (See following assets from the Oxus Treasure).
Scholars have extensively published about Takhti Sangin. However, a rare attention is paid to preserving the ruins of the site. Takhti Sangin is in a pool-like area where water is collected during the rainy seasons. The heavy rainfall would cause water to flow from the western side with mixed alluvium and deposits cover most of the historic site. One of the main problems that have been observed in the historic site of Ajina-Teppa, Kofirqala and Takhti Sangin is that they are not coveredwith rooftops and can be destroyed and eroded each year by rainfall.Hence there is a need for an urgent intervention to protect the site at present. It appears that the excavatedwill be further damaged by changing weather and natural disasters.
At present the excavated site of Takhti Sangin resembles to a basin. Heavy rainfall causes water to flow from the western side with mixed alluvium and deposits and covers most of the area historic site. Archaeological discovery has also significantly damaged some parts of the site. One the main barrier for tourist to not travel to this site the bad condition of the road. Another barrier is security issue for visitors. Takhti Sangin is located at the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In order to enter into the site a special permit is needed from security commit For this site to restore its described glory as a tourism place there is a strong need for development of the area, cooperation, support, and intervention from the central and local government. Quvati Dod, an historical and inhabitant of the village of jamoat Teshiktosh (the closest jamoat village to Takhti Sangin – 15km away from the centre of jamoat) serves as a local guide for the tourist visiting the site. He has revealed that this unique cultural heritage does not receive sufficient attention. According to his information, the soil and remains of the archaeological excavation should be removed from the site, which would give it better view and could be more attractive to more tourists. He noticed that non-specialists are getting more involved in this site and, this can lead to more destruction.
At present the excavated site of Takhti Sangin resembles to a basin. Heavy rainfall causes water to flow from the western side with mixed alluvium and deposits and covers most of the area historic site. Archaeological discovery has also significantly damaged some parts of the site. One the main barrier for tourist to not travel to this site the bad condition of the road. Another barrier is security issue for visitors. Takhti Sangin is located at the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In order to enter into the site a special permit is needed from security commit For this site to restore its described glory as a tourism place there is a strong need for development of the area, cooperation, support, and intervention from the central and local government. Quvati Dod, an historical and inhabitant of the village of jamoat Teshiktosh (the closest jamoat village to Takhti Sangin – 15km away from the centre of jamoat) serves as a local guide for the tourist visiting the site. He has revealed that this unique cultural heritage does not receive sufficient attention. According to his information, the soil and remains of the archaeological excavation should be removed from the site, which would give it better view and could be more attractive to more tourists. He noticed that non-specialists are getting more involved in this site and, this can lead to more destruction.
Takhti Sangin and Ajina -Teppa are the most interesting and important sitesin terms of representing the encounter of rich artistic, construction skill, synthesis of religious and social rituals in ancient Bactria, Central Asia. Developing an infrastructure for a) their preservation; marketing them as attractiveness; improving basic service, road, accommodation, and canteen would lead to the flow local and outside tourists to the site. The National Museum of Tajikistan, and the museums in Bokhtar, and Qabodiyon should develop a digital and audiovisual tours to market this unique monument.
Travelling to the Site
Takhti Sangin and Ajina -Teppa are the most interesting and important sitesin terms of representing the encounter of rich artistic, construction skill, synthesis of religious and social rituals in ancient Bactria, Central Asia. Developing an infrastructure for a) their preservation; marketing them as attractiveness; improving basic service, road, accommodation, and canteen would lead to the flow local and outside tourists to the site. The National Museum of Tajikistan, and the museums in Bokhtar, and Qabodiyon should develop a digital and audiovisual tours to market this unique monument.