I have 200 readers from Turkmenistan. Who are they?
Are they reading in English? Or in translation?
Their second language is Russian.
Currently
Turkmenistan officially the Republic of Turkmenistan is a country in South-central Asia. It has borders with Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
It has no ocean but it is on the Caspian Sea to the west. The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashghabat. The majority of the country is Muslim at 93%.
History and Religion
The country under Communist rule was atheist, but now is returning to promoting the Muslim religion. You might recognize religious symbols on the flag. Some say the colour green represents Islam but others claim it represents hope.
Silk and Carpets
Long ago the country was on the silk route. A legacy from olden times is the making of carpets, featuring red colours. The symbols or repeating lozenges reflect the popular patterns of individual tribes. You can also see carpet designs on the flag.
Photo by AltynAsyr in Wikipedia article on Turkmenistan.
I looked at a red carpet in my study. It is not from the same country. But the significance of patterns not constantly changing but reflecting the family or tribal patterns of the maker might still apply. I looked at the repeating patters and wondered what the symbols stood for.
A Golden statue of former President
Statue of former President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov.Niyazov, wrapped in the national flag|source=http://commons.File:Golden_Niya (Import from wikitravel.org/shared). Photo taken in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
Statue and Hero - Previous President
The major statue is the golden statue of the previous leader, the first president (...2006). the statue rotates to face the sun!
He named the country, and the month of January, the first month, after himself. Another month is named after another member of his family. This system lasted from 2002-6. His renamed months and days of the week were changed back in 2008, two years after he died.
Renamed Months
He was not the first person to name a month or weekday after the country's leaders or the country's God(s). January and July and August are named after Romans, Julius, Augustus. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are named afer the sun, moon, Woden and Thor.
He also banned beards and ballet. Therefore he was loved by many and disliked by a few, who were not allowed to voice opinions.
Wiki says:
Man Made Mosques and Mausoleums
Mosques and Mausoleums abound.
Natural Wonders
Are they reading in English? Or in translation?
Their second language is Russian.
Currently
Turkmenistan officially the Republic of Turkmenistan is a country in South-central Asia. It has borders with Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
It has no ocean but it is on the Caspian Sea to the west. The capital of Turkmenistan is Ashghabat. The majority of the country is Muslim at 93%.
History and Religion
The country under Communist rule was atheist, but now is returning to promoting the Muslim religion. You might recognize religious symbols on the flag. Some say the colour green represents Islam but others claim it represents hope.
Silk and Carpets
Long ago the country was on the silk route. A legacy from olden times is the making of carpets, featuring red colours. The symbols or repeating lozenges reflect the popular patterns of individual tribes. You can also see carpet designs on the flag.
Photo by AltynAsyr in Wikipedia article on Turkmenistan.
I looked at a red carpet in my study. It is not from the same country. But the significance of patterns not constantly changing but reflecting the family or tribal patterns of the maker might still apply. I looked at the repeating patters and wondered what the symbols stood for.
A Golden statue of former President
Statue of former President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov.Niyazov, wrapped in the national flag|source=http://commons.File:Golden_Niya (Import from wikitravel.org/shared). Photo taken in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.
Statue and Hero - Previous President
The major statue is the golden statue of the previous leader, the first president (...2006). the statue rotates to face the sun!
He named the country, and the month of January, the first month, after himself. Another month is named after another member of his family. This system lasted from 2002-6. His renamed months and days of the week were changed back in 2008, two years after he died.
Renamed Months
He was not the first person to name a month or weekday after the country's leaders or the country's God(s). January and July and August are named after Romans, Julius, Augustus. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are named afer the sun, moon, Woden and Thor.
He also banned beards and ballet. Therefore he was loved by many and disliked by a few, who were not allowed to voice opinions.
Wiki says:
Saparmurat Niyazov (February 19, 1940 - December 21, 2006) was the first President of Turkmenistan. He served from 1993 to 2006. Saparmurat Niyazov also called himself Türkmenbaşy, which means leader of the Turkmen people. He tried to make a cult of personality, which means that he put many pictures and statues of himself around his country to make himself seem important. While he was president, Niyazov made doing many things against the law, such as growing a beard or ballet dancing. He died from a heart attack on December 21, 2006.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow became the new president of Turkmenistan.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow became the new president of Turkmenistan.
Mosques and Mausoleums abound.
- 8 Now Urgench, remains of the capital of Horezmshah with magnificent architectural monuments,
- Mane Baba Mausoleum, about 40 km south of Tejen in the Khaka region. The mausoleum was built in the 11th and 12th centuries over the grave of the famous Sufi teacher and philosopher Abu Said Maneyi (968-1049).
- Wise Men and Witty Words
- The legend tells that Abu Said met Abu Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna) for a conversation that lasted three days. Afer this conversation Abi Said said: 'Ibn Sina knows everything that I see' and Ibn Sina answered: 'Abu Said sees everything that I know'.
Natural Wonders
The Darvaza gas crater (Turkmen: Garagum ýalkymy), is also known as the Door to Hell or Gates of Hell. It is a natural gas field collapsed into a cavern located in Derweze, Turkmenistan.[Geologists intentionally set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas. It is thought to have been burning continuously since 1971. The gas crater has a total area of 5,350 m. Its diameter is 69 m (226 ft), and its depth is 30 m (98 ft).
Useful Websites
First President
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saparmurat_Niyazov
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_renaming_of_Turkmen_months_and_days_of_week
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_renaming_of_Turkmen_months_and_days_of_week
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
See my blog dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com
Please share links to your favourite posts.
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