What was the Khwarazmshahs’ residence like?

A 17-hectare fortress and the life of rulers… What does the scientifically presented exhibit in the “Ancient Khorezm Civilization” exhibition of the Islamic Civilization Center museum in Uzbekistan signify?

Located in the territory of Uzbekistan, in the Ellikqala district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Toprakqala the residence of the Khorezmshahs in the 1^st-3^rd centuries CE is one of the central monuments of ancient Khorezm culture.

The fortress covers an area of 17 hectares and has a rectangular layout (500 × 350 m). Toprakqala was fortified with high mud-brick walls and a defensive system. Inside were a royal palace, a temple, ceremonial halls, administrative buildings, warehouses, workshops, and residential quarters.

Wall paintings and sculptures provide valuable information about the art, religious beliefs, and the life of rulers of that period.

Mirsodiq Iskhakov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor:

“Today, the model of Toprakqala displayed on a scientific basis in the ‘Ancient Khorezm Civilization’ exhibition at the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan represents one of the important administrative centers in the life of Khorezm. Through written documents found at this site, it is possible to gain a clear understanding of state affairs, accounting, and administrative practices of that era.”

Today, Toprakqala is preserved as an open-air museum, forms part of the Ellikqala archaeological complex, and, as one of the centers of ancient Khorezm culture, holds significant importance not only in the history of Uzbekistan but of the entire Central Asia.