The Living King and the Curse of the Tomb: Samarkand, the city of legends

CAIRO - 10 May 2025: In a far far away land, there stands a city similar to none, for in its intricate-adorned blue domes, dwells the tale of its rich history.

The moment you set foot into the city of Samarkand, it opens a doorway to a realm found only in books such as One Thousand and one Nights, for it’s not only one of the oldest cities in the world, but it’s also quickly becoming a favorite spot for global wanderers who are eager to explore its authentic well-preserved culture.  

The Central Asian city – which is located on the Silk Road - offers a unique experience through its blend of Islamic landmarks, bustling traditional Souks, craft shops and above all its kind-hearted people.

Known as the jewel of Central Asia, home to spectacular blue dome structures, and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Samarkand takes pride in being a city of scholars and Madrassahs, a testament of its contribution to human heritage. Most famous of these religious schools are located in Registan Square, Uzbekistan’s most iconic landmark. 

As custom has it, the older a city’s history is, the richer and more unique its folk culture gets. 

Samarkand is no exception.

Almost all the touristic attractions of the city house an interesting legend, as Sunnatullah Muhidinov, Professor of History at Samarkand State University says.

The leopard: city symbol 

“Alongside walls of the ancient medieval city of Afrasiyab, approximately in the 7th century BC, a majestic leopard descended from the mighty Zerafshan mountains and roamed around the streets bestowing its regal approval of building the nascent city of Samarkand”, adds Muhidinov in an interview in the university headquarters in Samarkand. 

The leopard - and also the lion- became with time a symbol for Uzbek people and it could be found on the walls of the most famous touristic landmarks such as Sherdor Madrassah in Registan square. Sher means lion in Persian language.

The Living King: Shahi-Zinda

Another important landmark in Samarkand is the Nekropolis of Shahi-Zinda or the living king. The complex is one of the most iconic architectural masterpieces in the city and it includes the graves of Qusam Ibn Abbass, the cousin of the prophet Mohammed and his successors and their families. 

In one battle after Islam had reached Samarkand, Qusam was defending the city when he was martyred. According to the legend, he was mortally wounded- some say he was beheaded- but he was able to escape the battlefield into a cave where he fell in a well and drunk the water of life and became immortal. Hence the name; the living king, as the professor says. 

Sha-i-Zinda Complex, Samarkand. The Creative Commons

What gained the legend its momentum was never finding the body of Qusam. People started to go down the well to look for him but only those with good hearts were able to pass, sinners were denied access.  

Years later in the 17th century, the famous ruler Timur/ Tamerlane attempted to find the truth and sent a religious man with a good heart into the cave. The man was said to have encountered ethereal beings, they told him secrets and demanded to be never revealed or else he would be cursed. 

Tamerlane pushed him to tell him all he had discovered, he was informed that he would be such a great conqueror who acquires large swaths of lands but will be defeated in China, as a punishment for sending the Sheikh into the cave.  As for the latter, he and his offspring were cursed with blindness. 

Bones of Prophet Daniel for protection 

Another unique must-visit attraction in Samarkand is Prophet Daniel’s tomb. Legend has it that the bones of the revered prophet in the three Abrahamic religions, were ordered to be moved to Samarkand by Tamerlane to protect the flourishing city from invaders. 

Prophet Daniel’s tomb - Egypt Today

Since the belief was that Prophet Daniel’s bones protect cities, it was ordered to be put in a 18m long sarcophagus, so thieves would not be able to steal it, as the professor clarifies. 

However, the true location of Prophet Daniel's burial site remains a mystery.

Curse of Tamerlane’s tomb

Gur-e Amir is another unique richly decorated ensemble with azure domes and blue columns in Samarkand, where King Tamerlane and his family are buried. 

Legend has it that the tomb of the most powerful king of his time was cursed so invaders would not be able to defile it and whoever tries would unleash a worst enemy and be defeated by them. The tomb was believed to contain gold and gemstones. 

It’s said that when the Soviet excavators opened the tomb in June 1941 and took the bones of Tamerlane and his family to Moscow, they were cursed. One week late, Hitler launched  the invasion of the Soviet Union in one of the bloodiest battles if World War II.  

Joseph Stalin had no other option but to retuen the bones to Samarkand and renovate the tomb out of respect to the great warlord. Only then did the tide change in favor of the Russians and the curse was broken and they won in the battle of Stalingrad. 

In conclusion, Samarkand's spectacular attractions and unique legends offer a glimpse into a country that has enriched the world in fields such as science, Islamic studies, astronomy, arts, and medicine. This ancient city still has much to offer, and its legends continue to captivate visitors from around the world.