Samarkand the Center of the World-轻识

In antiquity Samarkand was the capital of the Persian province of Sogdiana. Its language, culture, and Zoroastrian religion closely approximated those of the Persians. Following its conquest by Alexander, its strategic position and fertile soil made Sogdiana a coveted prize for Late Antique invaders of Central Asia. Around 660 CE at the dawn of Arab invasion local king Varkhuman promoted the execution of a unique painted program in one of his private rooms. Each wall was dedicated to a specific population: the north wall, the Chinese; the west, the Sogdians themselves; the east, the Indians and possibly the Turks. The south wall is probably the continuation of the scene on the west wall. In Chinese written sources, some support for this concept of the division of the world can be found. Accidentally discovered during Soviet times, the room was named Hall of the Ambassadors due to the representations of different peoples. However, many aspects of its painted program remain obscure. This study offers new ideas for better identifications of the rituals celebrated by the people on the different walls during precise moments of the year.

康马泰（Matteo Compareti），意大利那不勒斯大学“突厥、伊朗与中亚学”专业博士，国际伊朗学研究界著名学者。曾执教美国纽约大学古代世界研究所及加州大学，系加州大学伯克利分校“伊朗与中亚艺术史阿扎佩杰出讲席教授”，现任首都师范大学历史学院教授。长期从事丝绸之路及前伊斯兰时期伊朗文化圈历史与艺术研究。著有《从萨珊波斯到塔里木盆地：前伊斯兰时期丝绸之路上的伊朗艺术与文化》《波斯王朝与写实艺术：伊朗一千五百年图像学书志》《亚美尼亚陶雕像中前基督教时期神祇的表征》等英文、意大利文专著十余部及论文一百多篇。主编《伊朗与域外：纪念马尔沙克教授七十华诞论文集》、威尼斯大学《粟特壁画国际会议论文集》《萨珊波斯及其与邻近文明的关系研究》近十部，并参与编撰剑桥版《伊朗学百科全书·粟特卷》。其代表作《撒马尔罕，世界的中心：解读阿夫拉西阿卜壁画》（英文版）2017...

李思飞，美学硕士，历史学博士。著有《神性、人性、诗性的交响：希腊人体雕塑艺术赏析》。