Thursday, May 8, 2014, 7:30
p.m.
Dr. Matteo Compareti,
research scholar at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York
University
“The Afrasiyab Murals in
Retrospect”
Wallenberg Hall 160-124
(front of Quad)
The
present-day city of Samarkand, in Uzbekistan in Central Asia, is the site of
ancient Afrasiab, a capital of the Sogdian kings of the region in the 7th
century, now on the UNESCO World Heritage list. One of the most important
remains, datable to the 7th century Sogdian city, is a palatial hall
with its four walls decorated with wall paintings that appear to belong to the
local king. First excavated in 1965, the imagery in these murals depicts
foreigners such as Chinese, Turks, Indians, Koreans and others, together with
the native Sogdians of the region. Some depict rituals celebrating the
summer solstice.
Dr.
Compareti graduated from the University of Venice and defended his Ph.D. at
Naples University. The Silk Road was the main subject of his dissertations
which led to the subsequent focus of his research on Sogdian paintings and
Sasanian art, especially the representation of Zoroastrian deities.
Coming
soon:
Tuesday, May 20, 2014, 7:30 p.m.
Prof. Peter Golden, Emeritus, Rutgers University
“The Rouran-Avar-European Avar Question”
Cummings Art Building, Room 4
Drs. Compareti and Golden’s lectures are co-sponsored
by the Silk Road Foundation and the Center for East Asian Studies.
