Now we're making a stop on our way to the market to have look at the ancient Magok-i-Attari Mosque, which literally has been dug up.
The Mosque was built in the 12th century, originally being a zoroastrian temple.
It gradually sank into the ground and overgrew with cultural layers.
From the time of zoroastrianism remained symbols on the walls.
The two triangles symbolise good and evil and between them is the man.
- And another fact - the triangles reflect the main principle of this religion:
good words, good thoughts and good deeds.
In general It is incredibly difficult to conduct excavations in Bukhara.
The city remained at the same place, where it was originally founded.
It would be impossible to demolish the houses on demand of archeologists.
But still some excavations are taking place.
This is a part of the ancient Bukhara.
The scientists found there a lot of coins.
Now they are stored in the numismatic section in museum.
Once here was a market.
Here were also the bathhouses. There are quite a lot of them in the city, this one has been working since the 16th century.
Back to the market-domes.
The first on the way appears dome called "Menjal". The merchants could exchange any currency here.
Also here stood usurers. Did you know that it is forbidden for Muslims to lend money?
That's why this was done by visitors.
Bukhara has always been a multinational city, the intersection of trade routes after all.
Persians, Turks, Arabs, even Jews lived here. Yes, Bukhara Jews exist.
Nowadays there are about 70 of them left the city.
They aren't allowed to move away - they can't leave the Holy book of Torah.
It was brought here in ancient times and now according to the Uzbek laws it is prohibited to take out of the country items, which are older than 50 years.
Walking along the shopping market rows is another adventure.
Mixture of bright colours, exotic for us goods and expressive sellers.
On our way to the to the third dome we went to the blacksmith's shop, which was held in the the sixth generation.
- Do you know for whom I made this knife? For your husband.
- Why? So you don't nag him.
The knives are sold with different engravings. You can also order personalized inscription.
And girls will like scissors - in the form of a stork, but why only girls?
Originally male masters embroidered clothes with gold threads and used such scissors.
- And then gradually women began to do this work.
- In order not to mix up the tools - this one is made for men and this one - for women.
- Women weren't allowed to touch men's scissors.
- Yes!
- It was believed, that if a woman touches a gold thread, it will darken.
Since then in the homes of Bukhara have been existing two types of scissors.
The stork with a crest was used by men, and the stork without a crest - by women.
