Afrasiab murals

The paintings date back to the middle of the 7th century CE. They were probably painted between 648 and 651 CE, while the Western Turkic Khaganate, members are well represented in the mural, was in decline and the Tang Dynasty was increasing its territory in Central Asia.[1][2][3] Paintings on four walls of the room of a private house at the site depict three or four lands neighbouring Central Asia: On the northern wall, China (a Chinese festival, with the Empress on a boat, and the Emperor hunting); on the Southern Wall, Samarkand (i.e.; the Iranian world: a religious funerary procession in honor of the ancestors during the Nowruz festival); on the eastern wall India (as the land of astrologers and of pygmies, though this painting is largely destroyed).

The topic of the main wall, which depicts Kökturk soldiers are escorting ambassadors from various parts of the world (Korea, China, Iranian principalities etc.), is debated. Boris Marshak, a leading expert on Sogdian painting and the excavator of Panjikent, holds that since Sogdian painting always depicts gods on the top of the main wall, the central figure might be the ruler of Samarkand Varkhuman or the goddess Nana.[4] However, as the Turks are guiding the envoys but are not themselves ambassadors, it has been suggested that the painting depicts the Khagan, possibly Ashina Buzhen or more probably Ashina Mishe, might be depicted there.[5]

Western Turk officers and courtiers

Western Turk officer and seated courtiers, Afrasiab, 7th century CE.

In contrast with the ambassadors from various countries, the Western Turks in the mural do not bear gifts. They are considered attendants to the scene, and military escorts to the foreign ambassadors. They are recognizable as Turks by their long plaits.[13]

The ambassadors from various countries may have been paying homage both to king Varkhuman and possibly a Western Turk Khagan, both nominal vassals of China. The numerous Turkic officers and courtiers who are present may suggest the predominance of the Western Turks at the court of Samarkand during this time period.[1]

In the mural, the Western Turks are ethnic Turks, Nushibis, rather than Turkicized Sogdians, as suggested by their facial features and faces without beards.[14] They are the most numerous ethnic group in the mural, and are not ambassadors, but rather military attendants.[14] Their depiction offers a unique glimpse into the costumes of the Turks in the 6-7th century CE.[14] They typically wear 3 or 5 long plaits, often gathered together into a single long cloth.[14] They have ankle-long monochromic sleeved coats with two lapels.[14] This fashion for the collar is first seen in Khotan near Turfan, a traditional Turkic area, in the 2nd-4th century CE.[14] They have low black sharp-nosed boots. They wear gold bracelets with lapis lazuli or pearls.[14]

There are four walls, with murals in various states of preservation. There were two registers, an upper and lower one, but the upper register of the murals was essentially destroyed by bulldozers during the construction works that led to the discovery of the murals.[13]

Various reconstructions for the whole mural have been proposed.[15]

Afrasiab murals

Afrasiab west wall (reconstitution).[16]

Afrasiab south wall (reconstitution)

West wall
Ambassadors from various countries, paying hommage to king Varkhuman and possibly Western Turk Khagan Shekui, both nominal vassals of China. Numerous Turkish officers and courtiers are present.[1]

South wall
Funeral procession led by King Varkhuman, in honour of his predecessor Shishpir.[1]

North wall
"Chinese panel". Emperor Taizong is seen hunting, and the Chinese Empress is seen on a boat, on a visit to the Western Turk Khagan Shekui.[1]

East wall
Possible scenes of India.[13]

• 
  Afrasiab Palace Fresco 7th-8th century. Sogdian Chamberlains & Interpreter Introduce Tibetan Messengers
• 
  Turkic dignitaries visiting king Varkhuman in Samarkand. One of them is labeled as coming from Argi (Karashahr in modern Xinjiang).[1][17]
• 
  Chinese boat
• 
  Ambassadors from Chaganian (central figure, inscription of the neck), and Chach (modern Tashkent) to king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand.[1][17]
• 
  Afrasiab Palace Fresco 7th-8th century. Detail of a horserider

In early 2014, France declared that it would finance the restoration of the Afrasiab painting.[18]

• 
  Afrasyab Chinese Embassy (left), carrying silk and a string of silkworm cocoons, and Turkish delegates (right), recognizable by their long plaits.[17][19]
• 
  Wall painting at the Ambassador's Hall in Afrosiab
• 
  Ambassadors from Chaganian (central figure, inscription of the neck), and Chach (modern Tashkent) to king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand.[1][17][20] The delegate to the right has a Simurgh design on his dress.[21]
• 
  Turkish officers during an audience with king Varkhuman of Samarkand. 648-651 CE, Afrasiyab murals, Samarkand.[1][22]
• 
  Delegate with Simurgh design on his dress in the Afrasiab murals, 648-651 CE.[21]
• 
  Delegate with boar head symbol on his dress in the Afrasiab murals 650 CE.[23]

• Penjikent murals
• Sogdian art

• Marshak, Boris; Grenet, Frantz; Sadowska-Daguin, Malgoržata (1994). "Le programme iconographique des peintures de la "Salle des ambassadeurs" à Afrasiab (Samarkand)". Arts Asiatiques. 49 (1): 5–20. doi:10.3406/arasi.1994.1349.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Afrasiyab museum paintings.

Royal Nawrūz in Samarkand: Acts of the Conference held in Venice on the Pre-Islamic Afrāsyāb Painting, ed. M. Compareti and E. de La Vaissière, Rome, 2006.

• Court art of Sogdian Samarqand in the 7th century AD - images and commentary at the University of Halle