Lashkari Bazar | |
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Archeological site | |
Coordinates: 31°33′57″N 64°21′03″E / 31.565961°N 64.350822°E | |
Country | Afghanistan |
Province | Helmand |
Lashkari Bazar ( Persian: لشگری بازار "Military market", locally known as Persian: کھنه قلعه Qala-e-Kohna "Old castle") was a palatial residence of rulers of the Ghaznavid Empire, located in Lashkargah in Afghanistan. The original name was probably al-'Askar. [2]
Some structural elements of the site date to the Parthian period. [2] The Center palace (32x52 meters) is thought to be dating from the Samanid period (819-999 CE). [2] The area had been conquered by the Arabs as early as 661 CE, and developed to become a large and wealthy city. [3]
The very large South Palace (170x100 meters) was probably founded by Mahmud of Ghazni (998-1030 CE), and expanded by his son Masud I (1030-41 CE). [2] [4] [5] [3] The palaces in Lashkari Bazar were the winter retreat of the Ghaznavid rulers, whose capital was in Ghazni. [3] The South Palace was richly decorated with stucco, paintings, frescoes and carved marble panels. [2] A large market street about 100 meters long, a bazaar, joins the palace structure. [2]
The Northern palace was constructed by later rulers. [3] [2]
The later Ghurid dynasty sacked the palaces in 1151 CE, but later restored them, and some portions of the architecture are attributed to them. [3] [2] They built the fortress of Qala-e-Bost about 7 kilometers to the south, together with an architectural arch.
Recently the ruins have been inhabited by Afghan refugees fleeing Taliban violence. [6]