A lecture by Aleksandr Naymark, Hofstra University
The second lecture in the winter term series on the history and culture of the Zerafshan Valley will take place on December 17th, 2024, at 13:00 CET, online via ZOOM. This series is jointly organized by Prof. Dr. Stefan Heidemann from the Asien-Afrika-Institut at Universität Hamburg and Dr. Shovosil Ziyodov, director of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The lecture, titled “Archery and Kingship in Pre-Islamic Soghd and Early Islamic Mawarannahr”, will be presented by Prof. Dr. Aleksandr Naymark, Professor of Art History at Hofstra University. Dr. Naymark will discuss Qarakhanid strategies of legitimization, focusing on numismatic materials, Chinese records, and the remarkable paintings discovered in the Qarakhanid palace at Afrasiab, linking them to ancient Iranian traditions.
Prof. Naymark, a leading expert in Central Asian art and archaeology, has conducted extensive research and excavations in the region and holds a distinguished academic record, including teaching roles at prestigious institutions worldwide.