Akchakhan-Kala, or Akcha-khan Kala, also named after the locality Kazakly-Yatkan/ Kazakl'i-Yatkan, in modern

Karakalpakstan Karakalpakstan, officially the Republic of Karakalpakstan, is an autonomous republic and part of Uzbekistan. It spans the northwestern portion of Uzbekistan. Its capital is Nukus (' / ). Karakalpakstan has an area of , and has a population of a ...

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

, was an ancient fortress in

Chorasmia Khwarazm (; ; , ''Xwârazm'' or ''Xârazm'') or Chorasmia () is a large oasis region on the Amu Darya river delta in western Central Asia, bordered on the north by the (former) Aral Sea, on the east by the Kyzylkum Desert, on the south by ...

built in the 4th/ 3rd century BCE and occupied until it was despoiled in the 2nd century CE. It is part of the "Fifty fortresses oasis" in modern-day

. The abandonment of Akchakhan-Kala was apparently followed by the establishment of the new capital of Toprak-Kala, 14 km to the northeast.

Excavations

Akcha-khan Kala has been the object of numerous excavations, still ongoing. A ceremonial complex with a

hypostyle In architecture, a hypostyle () hall has a roof which is supported by columns. Etymology The term ''hypostyle'' comes from the ancient Greek ὑπόστυλος ''hypóstȳlos'' meaning "under columns" (where ὑπό ''hypó'' means below or und ...

hall was discovered. File:Corner of upper enclosure of Kazakl'i-yatkan.jpg, Corner of upper enclosure of Kazakl'i-yatkan File:Kazakl'i-yatkan.jpg, Kazakl'i-yatkan File:Column base at Kazakl'i-yatkan.jpg, Column base at Kazakl'i-yatkan File:Mud brick floor at Kazakl'i-yatkan.jpg, Mud brick floor at Kazakl'i-yatkan

Paintings

Many decorations have been found, belonging to the period from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE: a large quantity of frescoes, unbaked-clay modelled sculptures including fragments of a

Ketos In Greek mythology, a Cetus () is a large sea monster. Perseus slew a cetus to save Andromeda from being sacrificed to it. Later, before the Trojan War, Heracles also killed one to rescue Hesione. The term cetacean (for whale) derives from '' ...

in Hellenistic style, and a

Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, Zoroaster ( ). Among the wo ...

fire altar A fire temple (; ) is a place of worship for Zoroastrians. In Zoroastrian doctrine, '' atar'' and '' aban'' (fire and water) are agents of ritual purity. Clean, white "ash for the purification ceremonies sregarded as the basis of ritual li ...

with paintings of colossal

Avestan Avestan ( ) is the liturgical language of Zoroastrianism. It belongs to the Iranian languages, Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family and was First language, originally spoken during the Avestan period, Old ...

gods.

Parthian Parthian may refer to: Historical * Parthian people * A demonym "of Parthia", a region of north-eastern of Greater Iran * Parthian Empire (247 BC – 224 AD) * Parthian language, a now-extinct Middle Iranian language * Parthian shot, an archery sk ...

artistic influences have also been described. File:Akchakhan-Kala mural.jpg, Akchakhan-Kala mural File:Kazakly Yaktan mural (2).jpg, Akchakhan-Kala mural File:Kazakly Yaktan mural.jpg, Akchakhan-Kala mural File:Chorasmian oasis main fortresses.jpg, Location of the Akchakhan-Kala fortress in the

n oasis, in relation to other main fortresses

References

External links

Excavations of Kazakl'i-yatkan (Akchakhan-Kala)
{{Tourist attractions in Uzbekistan Central Asia Archaeology of Iran Desert castles of ancient Khorezm Former populated places in Uzbekistan Kushan Empire