Osh
The history of Osh city is three thousand years old. This was proved by a scientist and archaeologist Yury Alexandrovich Zadneprovsky in 1950, when during an expedition on the southern slope of Suleiman-Tao, remains of an ancient settlement were found that became irrefutable proof of how ancient Osh is.
The etymology of Osh has not been fully studied. The topic of the origin of the name of the city still continues to cause controversy among scientists. There are many versions why the city is called that way, and among them there are both real and fantastic ones. Clergymen connect the appearance of the name Osh with the ancient legends about the biblical king Solomon (Suleiman). One of these legends says:
“Once, the great king Solomon led his army, and in front of him drove several oxen with a plough. When the oxen reached the famous mountain, Solomon said: “Hosh!”
The word "Hosh" is translated as "enough." It is from this word that the name of the future city originated. However, neither this nor other similar legends explain the etymology, as well as when and under what circumstances the city itself was founded, but somehow make it clear that the inhabitants of these areas were engaged in agriculture.
Nevertheless, returning to the theme of the found ancient settlement that existed during the Bronze Age, we should say that it became the basis for the formation of the future city of Osh. Many years later, in the same place, on the slope of Suleiman-Tao, the first pagan temple appeared in the city, dedicated to the twin fire-water cult “Ohsho”. Scientists suggest that the city could be named after this temple.
Today only a small part of the medieval Osh remains, but even with these remains there is an opportunity to restore the whole picture of the ancient city. It becomes clear that the city of Osh was surrounded by a fortress wall with three gates, in the center stood a citadel surrounded by Shahristan, a mosque was located near the bazaar, and the Ak-Bura river flowed nearby. During this period, the city of Osh reached its first bloom due to its convenient geographical location for the Great Silk Road. That is why the city was a local center of commerce, handicrafts, as well as science and culture. The second flourishing of Osh fell on the times of the Soviet Union. The city became a major industrial hub, many factories and enterprises were built.
Today, tourists coming to Kyrgyzstan from all over the world will definitely visit the city of Osh. First of all, it attracts by the presence of numerous attractions and monuments of architecture. Also, the city of Osh is a starting point for tourists who decide to visit other cities of Kyrgyzstan.