Karsakpay inscription explained

The Karsakpay inscription (also called the Timur's stone)[1] is a message carved on April 28, 1391[2] into a fragment of rock in Ulu Tagh mountainside near the Karsakpay mines, Kazakhstan. It was found in 1935.[3] It consists of three lines in Arabic, and eight lines in Chagatai, written in the Old Uyghur alphabet.[4]

After its discovery, the Karsakpay inscription was taken to the Hermitage Museum in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1936, where it is today.[5] [6] The inscription mentions how Timur is asking to those reading the inscription to remember him with a prayer.[7]

The inscription was researched and published by Nicholas Poppe in 1940, and later researched by Napil Bazilhan, Hasan Eren, Olga Borisovna Frolova, A. P. Grigoryev, N.N. Telitsyn, A.N. Ponomarev and Zeki Velidi Togan.

Measurements

The inscription measures 80x40 centimeters. The depth of the carvings are within 1.5–2 millimeters. The distance between Arabic and Chagatai lines are 18 centimeters.

Description

The inscription notes the crossing of Timur, a Turco-Mongol conqueror, and his 200,000 men in pursuit of campaign against Tokhtamysh, a ruler of the Golden Horde from 1378 to 1395, and the route that passed through the semi-desert regions of Betpak-Dala.

In Zafarnama (Book of Victories), written in the first quarter of the 15th century, its author Sharaf ad-Din Ali Yazdi gives one historical event of that campaign:

For a joyful survey of that steppe, Timur ascended to the top of the mountain, the whole plain was all green. He stayed there that day, (then) a high order came out, so that the soldiers brought stones and a high sign, like a lighthouse was put in that place. Master stonecutters inscribed on it the date of that day, so that to leave the reminder on the face of time.[8]

Complete text

Arabic

Arabic transliteration: (by the International Turkic Academy)

Bismillaahirrahmanirrahim

Malikul mulikl kuddusul hakkul muminul muhayminul zabbarul

kadirul hakimul mumitul hayiu

Translation:[9]

In the name of Allah, the gracious, the merciful

Lord of Existence, Sanctuary of Truth, Vigilant Protector, Almighty and All-Powerful

Wise Giver of Life and Death

Chagatai

Chagatai transliteration:[10]

Tariq yettı yuz yıl toqsan üçintä qoy yaznıŋ ara ay

Turannıŋ sultānı Timurbäg üç yuz miŋ çärig bilä

Islām üçün Toqtamışqan bulğar qanıqa yurıdı

Bu yergä yetip bälgü bolzun tep bu obanı qopardı

Täŋri nısbat bergäy inşalla

Täŋri ul kişikä rahmat qılğay bizni duā bıla yād qılğay

Translation:

Summer seven hundred and ninety-three, in the middle spring month of the year of the sheep

Sultan of Turan Timur-Bey went up with three hundred thousand troops

for Islam on the Bulgarian Khan Toktamysh Khan.

Reaching the area, he built this mound to have been a memorial.

God willing, the Lord would execute justice!

The Lord will have mercy to the people of the country! Yes, they will remember us with prayer!

Chagatai transliteration: (by International Turkic Academy)

Tarıh /Qara ?/ yetı yüz toksan üçinte /Toqmaq orna-da ?/ qoy yıl yaznıŋ ara ay

Turannıŋ sultanı Temür bek iki (üč ?) yüz mıŋ čerik bile

Ismi üčün Toqtamıš qan bulğar qanığa yorıdı

Bu yerge yetip belgü bolsun tep bu obanı qopardı

Teŋrı nisfat bergeı insi-alla

Teŋrı el kisige rahmat qılğay bız-nı duwa bıle yad qılğay

Notes and References

  1. Fomin . V. N. . Usmanova . E.R. . Zhumashev . R.M. . Pokussayev . A.V. . Motuza . G. . Omarov . Kh.B. . Kim . Yu.Yu. . Ishmuratova . M.Yu. . Chemical-technological analysis of slags from the "Altynshoky" complex . Химия (Chemistry) . 2018 . 91 . 3 . 1 . 2 October 2020 .
  2. Ponomarev . A. I. . ПОПРАВКИ К ЧТЕНИЮ "НАДПИСИ ТИМУРА" (Amendments to the Readings of Timor's inscriptions . Советское востоковедение (Soviet Oriental Studies) . 1945 . 3 . 222224 . Academy of Sciences of USSR . Moscow . ru.
  3. Web site: Emir Temir'in Yazıtı (Karsakpay //Аltın Şokı anıtı), 1391. Karsakpay Anıtı. Petersburg, Devlet Ermitaj Sergisi Karsakpay Anıtı. N.N.Poppe. 2 October 2020.
  4. Book: Grigoryev . A. P. . Historiography and source study of the history of the countries of Asia and Africa . 2004 . 324.
  5. Book: Trever . Kamilla Vasilyevna . Yakubovskiy . A.Y. . Voronets . M.E. . Kamilla Trever . История народов Узбекистана (History of the Peoples of Uzbekistan) . 1947 . Тревер . Moscow . 978-5-458-44514-6 . 2 . ru . 355. }
  6. Book: Allworth . Edward . Edward A. Allworth . The modern Uzbeks: from the fourteenth century to the present: a cultural history . 1990 . Hoover Institution Press . Stanford . 9780817987329 . 215.
  7. Book: Brummell . Paul . Kazakhstan . 2008 . Bradt Travel Guides . Chalfont St. Peter, UK . 263068377 . 203 .
  8. Book: Tizengauzen . V.G. . Сборник материалов, относящихся к истории Золотой орды (Collection of materials related to the history of the Golden Horde) . 1941 . . Moscow; Leningrad . 2 . ru.
  9. Web site: Altynshoky. 6 November 2020.
  10. Web site: A mysterious stone of Timur . Silk Roads World Heritage . 2 October 2020 . 2016.