An evaluation of V. A. Şişkin’s work entitled The Tombs at Zengi Ata

Abstract

Studies of Orientalism and Turkology in Russia began during the Tsarist period and continued uninterrupted during the Soviet era. In a sense, studies during the Tsarist period were also influenced by the socialist policies pursued by Lenin and Stalin during the Soviet period. Accordingly, research and publications on Islam, Sufism, Sufi orders, and especially Yesevîlik and Ahmed Yesevî, became an area of application for atheist policies. This study consists of works on Sufism, Sufi orders, and Ahmed Yesevî conducted in Soviet Russia and other countries, including V. A. Shashkin’s 1927 article on the tombs at Zengi Ata. In his article, Shashkin evaluates the sources on Zengi Ata, providing information on the architecture of Zengi Ata’s tomb, along with anecdotes, biographical books and narratives about him. A brief introduction to Anber Bibi, the wife of Zengi Ata, is also included. He has added photographs and architectural plans of the tomb of Zengi Ata and Anber Bibi to his article. The graves of Zengi Ata and Anber Bibi are located in the village of Zengi Ata on the Samarkand road near Tashkent. There are two chambers where Zengi Ata’s grave is located, one belonging to his grave and the other known as the hankah. Zengi Ata is the successor of Hakim Ata, who was the successor of Ahmed Yesevî. Zengi Ata is also known as Çopan Ata, meaning shepherd, because he was a shepherd. His real name is Ahmet, and Zengi is a nickname given to him. He became known and famous under the name Zengi Ata.