Aybak, Samangan
Aybak
سمنگان | |
---|---|
Town | |
Coordinates: 36°15′55″N 68°1′0″E / 36.26528°N 68.01667°E | |
Country | Afghanistan |
Province | Samangan |
District | Aybak |
Elevation | 959 m (3,146 ft) |
Population (2012) | |
• Total | 9,958 |
Time zone | + 4.30 |
Aybak (Aibak or Haibak; previously Eukratidia (
Due to its location, Haibak has been influenced by Buddhist,
In 2021, the Taliban gained control of the city during the 2021 Taliban offensive.
History
The earliest known history is linked to the identification of the place by
Historicity of the town is dated to the
Aibak was the name given to this place when during the medieval period, caravans used to stop here.[3]
On October 23, 2003, during the
In 2021, the Taliban launched a
The bombing of a school in December 2022 killed 17 people.[6]
Historical heritage
Samangan has one of the well-known
- Takht-i Rustam
Takht-i Rustam (Haibak), literal meaning "the throne of Rustam", named after
- Hazar Sumuch District
Legend
A hoary legend links Samangan to the famous epic story of Rostam and Sohrab. Rostam (meaning hero of the World), a valiant hero of Iran, was on a hunting visit to the Samangan area. He took rest at a place near the Samangan area, in the village of Shaihabad. During this time, his horse was stolen under a plan engineered by the local King, who was impressed by the valour of Rustam. The local king wanted to have Rostam as his ally. When Rostam finds out that his horse, named Rakhsh, had been stolen, he became furious and went in search of the horse and the search led him to the Samangan town. When he reached the outskirts of the town, the King of Samangan and his entourage came to greet him. Rostam then threatened the Samangan King with dire consequences if his horse was not found, as the horse's hoofprints had been tracked up to the village. The local king, however, assuaged Rostam and invited him to his palace as his honoured guest and entertains him lavishly. He also promised Rostam that he would arrange to send search parties to find his horse. While in the palace, the King's daughter Tamina met him and falls in love with Rustam. Rustam also fell in love with her. With the approval of the king and the people of Samangan, the local ruler's beautiful daughter Tamina married Rustam. The king was pleased with this development and he then arranged to find the horse of Rostam. Rostam then returned to Iran, his home country. Before taking leave of his wife he gave her an onyx t[clarification needed] that was tied to his arm. He gave it to her, and said:
Cherish this jewel, and if Heaven cause thee to give birth unto a daughter, fasten it within her locks, and it will shield her from evil; but if it be granted unto thee to bring forth a son, fasten it upon his arm, that he may wear it like his father. And he shall be strong as Keriman, of stature like unto Sam the son of Neriman, and of grace of speech like unto Zal, my father.
Both were sorrowful at the separation from each other. Their son was later born to Tamina in Samangan, who was named as Sohrab.[11][12][13]
Tahmineh brought up her son with great dedication and taught him all the skills of warfare and he became very strong. She also told him about his father Rostam and his forefathers and their valiant achievements as warriors in Iran. She also gave him the gifts that his father had sent him. She advised him to be wary of Afrasiyab of Turan who was father's foe. After knowing his ancestry and about his brave father, Sohrab decided to invade Iran. He also promised his mother that she would be the queen of Iran. As he rode on a horse which was the foal of Rakshak, his father's horse, he thought the tidings were good. However, as he moved to wage war against Iran he encountered his father on the battlefield. His father had been kept totally unaware of his son's identity by Afrasiyab who wanted father and son to fight each other. Before Sohrab led his army against Iran, Afrasiyab had beguiled him to join him in the war, with gifts with messages praising Sohrab for his intent to invade Iran and told him how that "if Iran be subdued the world would henceforth know peace, for upon his own head would he place the crown of the Kaianides; and Turan, Iran, and Samengan should be as one land." There was deceit and false information given about Rostam. Both were unaware of each other's identity and relationship when they faced each other on the battlefield. In the fierce battle that took place between father and son Sohrab was mortally wounded. When Sohrab was wounded he announced his identity to Rostam and on hearing this Rostam was overtaken by intense grief and threw away his sword. Sohrab also was grief-stricken upon knowing that it was his father whom he had faced in the war and who had wounded him mortally. He then showed his onyx symbol that was tied to his armour. Rostam realized that it was the onyx which he had given to his wife and that he had really slain his own son. Kaykavous, the king of Iran, delayed giving Rostam the healing potion (Noush Daru) to save Sohrab as he feared losing his power to the alliance of the father and the son.[11][12][13]
Geography
The town is located on the banks of the Khulm River valley formed below the junction of Hindu Kush Mountains and the Central Asian Steppe. The valley has very fertile agricultural land and is characterised by rolling green fields and hills at the sides.[3] The
Climate
Aybak features a four-season mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa/Dsa). The annual mean temperature is 13.4 °C (56.1 °F).
Climate data for Aybak | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.4 (39.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
12.3 (54.1) |
19.3 (66.7) |
25.1 (77.2) |
31.3 (88.3) |
33.6 (92.5) |
32.3 (90.1) |
27.9 (82.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
13.6 (56.5) |
7.6 (45.7) |
19.6 (67.3) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) |
1.6 (34.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
24.1 (75.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
25.1 (77.2) |
20.3 (68.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
7.5 (45.5) |
2.6 (36.7) |
13.4 (56.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.2 (22.6) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
2.2 (36.0) |
8.1 (46.6) |
12.1 (53.8) |
17.0 (62.6) |
19.5 (67.1) |
17.9 (64.2) |
12.8 (55.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
7.3 (45.1) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 47 (1.9) |
58 (2.3) |
79 (3.1) |
67 (2.6) |
35 (1.4) |
1 (0.0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
1 (0.0) |
9 (0.4) |
22 (0.9) |
33 (1.3) |
352 (13.9) |
Source: Climate-Data.org[14] |
Culture
- Marketplace
The weekly market, an ancient traditional activity of the town is popular and held every Thursday when craftsmen specializing in musical instruments, such as the dutar (two-stringed lute) and the Zirbhagali (a drum made of pottery), exhibit their products for sale. A special marketplace here is known as the Bazar-e-Danbora Faroshi (Lute-Sellers' Bazar or market).
- Cuisine
The town is also famous for its Uzbek bread loaves, which are a popular street side sale.[2]
- Health
The town's hospital serves the entire province.[15]
- Refugees
A refugee camp, Hazrati-Sultan, is located 70 km (43 mi) to the north.[16]
In popular culture
The
References
- ^ Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, E285.16
- ^ a b "Introducing Samangan (Aibak)". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-74059-642-8. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ Royal Numismatic Society (Great Britain) (1846). The Numismatic chronicle, Volume 8. Royal Numismatic Society. pp. 107–108.
- ^ "Taliban capture sixth provincial capital in northern Afghanistan". The Guardian. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "Students killed as bomb blast hits Afghan school". BBC News. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Takht-i Rustam monastery, (near) Samangan, Velayat-e Samangan, AF". Mapping of Buddhist Monasteries. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "Takht e Rustam". Afghanistan Cultural Profile. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "Samangan Provincial Government" (PDF). Visiting Arts: Samangan Provincial Department of Information and Culture. Retrieved 28 October 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Hazar Sum" (PDF). Visiting Arts: Samangan Provincial Department of Information and Culture. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2005. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ a b Firdawsi, Firdawsi (1906). The Sháhnáma of Firdausí, Volume 2. K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. Ltd. pp. 118, 122–135. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-292-71158-1. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ a b The Geographical journal, Volume 37. Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain). 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
- ^ "Climate: Samangan - Climate-Data.org". Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ISBN 986-81419-8-2.
- ^ Wang, p. 149
External links
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 819.
- Dupree, Nancy Hatch (1977): An Historical Guide to Afghanistan. 1st Edition: 1970. 2nd Edition. Revised and Enlarged. Afghan Tourist Organization. [1]
- Satellite map at Maplandia.com
- Pictures from Haibak in 1974