Maghoki Attar monastery, (in) Bukhara, Buxoro Viloyati, UZ

Raw data

“An excavation [by the Soviet archaeologist V.A. Shishkin - http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/history/002.htm] in 1930s at Moghoki Attar mosque in Bukhara, perhaps the oldest surviving mosque in Central Asia, revealed under it ruins of a Zoroastrian temple destroyed by Arabs and an earlier Buddhist temple beneath it. The name Bukhara itself perhaps derives from Vihara.” - http://mwcnews.net/focus/analysis/7099-buddhisms-influence-on-islam.html

“Dating from the 12th century, the Maghoki-Attar Mosque in Bukhara is the oldest mosque in Central Asia. It also boasts an illustrious history of sacredness - remains of a Zoroastrian temple and a Buddhist temple have been found beneath it, and Jews once used it in the evenings. History - This site was originally occupied by a Buddhist temple, then later a Zoroastrian temple that was built in the 5th century. Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic faith and the state religion of the Persian Empire before the rise of Islam. The Zoroastrian temple [in turn - tmciolek] was destroyed by the Arabs and replaced with a mosque in the 12th century, which was named Maghoki-Attar ("Pit of the Herbalists") because of the nearby spice bazaar.”
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/uzbekistan/bukhara-maghoki-attar-mosque.htm

“Historians mention that numerous atoshdana (fire-worship shrines) were located throughout the Bukhara oasis, especially in Bukhara and Paikend. One of these shrines was situated in Bukhara's Shakhristan, in the Moh market, named after the moon deity. On popular festival days, clay and wooden idols were sold here. The fact that the Bukhara ruler himself sat on his throne near the temple attests to the importance of this ritual. Later on, the Magoki-Attori Mosque was erected on the site of the Moh Temple.” - http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/history/015.htm
Input by: tmciolek, Apr 05, 2013

“In the second half of the fourth century A.D., the political situation in the Bukhara oasis had changed noticeably. First and foremost, the Samanid influence resulted in a change in the official symbols depicted on coins; the image of Hercules sitting on an omphalos and other Hellenistic symbols vanished from coins and were replaced with the image of a fire altar, a typical symbol of the Samanid period.” - http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/history/004.htm
Input by: tmciolek, Apr 06, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 06 Apr 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Maghoki Attar monastery, UZ.

General location of the Maghoki Attar monastery, UZ.
Lat 39.77322 Long 64.41835
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.77322+64.41835+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Maghoki%20Attar%20monastery,%20UZ)&ll=39.77322,64.41835&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Maghoki Attar monastery

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Uzbekistan:Buxoro Viloyati

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 39.77322 Long 64.41835 - based on visual identification of the Moghoki Attar mosque in maps/satellite imagery and Panoramio photographs, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 05 Apr 2013.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

8. The settlement's coordinates

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • [missing data]

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • [missing data]

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • "[During the] second half of the fourth century A.D., the political situation in the Bukhara oasis had changed noticeably. First and foremost, the Samanid influence resulted in a change in the official symbols depicted on coins; the image of Hercules sitting on an omphalos and other Hellenistic symbols vanished from coins and were replaced with the [Zoroastrian] image of a fire altar, a typical symbol of the Samanid period.” - http://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/bukhara/history/004.htm
  • Buddhist monastery is either accidentally or deliberately destroyed. On it's ruins a Zoroastrian temple was built in the 5th century CE. - http://www.sacred-destinations.com/uzbekistan/bukhara-maghoki-attar-mosque.htm
  • MBM chrono-tag: 0367-99p 0400-32p 0433-66p 0467-99p - tmciolek 05 Apr 2013
  • 0367-99p 0400-32p 0433-66p 0467-99p dated-l

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Archaeological, historical accounts

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery

19. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

end of page

0367-99p0400-32p0433-66p0467-99p200mcentral-asiadated-lmplacetradition(?)uzbekistan
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