The article dwells on significance, origin, structure, development and time changes of the toponyms of the contemporary town located in Northern Tajikistan, that of Istaravshan. It is underscored that during two and half millennia of its history the town changed its name thrice. In antique times and Middle Ages the town was known under the names of Kiropol (variants: Kireskhata, Kurushada), Istaravshan (phonetic variants: Surushan, Surushana, Saydushana, Ustrushanik, Ustrushan, Ustrushana), and since the XVI-th century it was called as Uro-Teppa. An endeavor is undertaken to specify the etimology of the names mentioned, it is designed on the premise of authentic and authoritative antique and mediaeval originals: the sacred book of Zoroastrians called «Avesta», «Ashkol-ul-Olam» by Djeykhani (Xc.) «Masolik va Mamolik» by Istakhri (Xc.), «Futuh-ul-Buldon» by Banozuri (IXc.), memoir literature of Chinese travellers (III – X cc.). exploration of home and foreign travellers; famous Russian Orientalist V.A. Livshitz, Tajik historians – academicians A.Mukhtarov, S.Abdulloyev, Yu.Yakubov being included into this number.
historic geography, toponymy, Istaravshan, Uro-Teppa, Kiropol, mediaeval historic sources
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