A visit to the Khujand Museum, known for its mosaic of Alexander the Great, would not be complete without seeing the Capitoline Wolf monument. This iconic sculpture carries a historical context—it was inspired by a Roman mosaic unearthed during excavations in the medieval city of Bundzhikat. While local archaeology is rich with fascinating finds, it seems that the European symbolism of the wolf attracts more attention. Nonetheless, seeing the monument is a must, as it represents an unusual sight in Central Asia and serves as a doorway to the region’s deeper historical connections.
Between 1965 and 1972, archaeologists conducted excavations in northern Tajikistan, uncovering the palace of the Afshins, the rulers of Ustrushana. The palace stood proudly in the citadel of a city that is believed to be ancient Bundzhikat, the capital of Ustrushana. This palace was remarkable for its grandeur, adorned with intricately carved wooden beams, panels, friezes, and sculptures of humans and birds. The walls of the palace’s main rooms—a three-tiered hall with a throne loggia, a smaller reception hall, a temple, and spacious corridors—were covered in vibrant murals. However, in the late 9th century, Ismail Samani, a fervent Muslim leader, annexed Ustrushana, bringing an end to the Afshin dynasty. He not only destroyed the dynasty but also left the palace in ruins, looted and burned to the ground. Today, the remnants of this palace lie buried beneath layers of charred wood and clay, with its walls scorched red from the flames.
During the excavation of the central corridor, archaeologists made a unique discovery for Central Asia: a large wolf painted in vivid cinnabar lines, accompanied by two naked infants suckling at her breasts. This scene, far removed from the snow-capped peaks of the Turkestan Range, transports us to the banks of the Tiber River and the legend of the founding of Rome. The mythical wolf is depicted nurturing Romulus and Remus, the legendary twin brothers who founded the Eternal City.
According to Roman myth, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Mars, the god of war, and Rhea Silvia, daughter of Numitor, the king of Alba Longa. Numitor had been overthrown by his younger brother Amulius, who ordered the infants to be cast into the Tiber River. However, the river carried the twins safely to shore, where a she-wolf, sent by Mars, nursed them. As they grew, Romulus and Remus avenged their grandfather by killing Amulius and restoring Numitor to power. They then founded the city of Rome on the spot where the wolf had found them. Once this miraculous tale became officially recognized, the image of the Capitoline Wolf suckling the twins became a lasting symbol of Rome, appearing in works of art, on coins, and seals. Over time, the image even made its way to the Sassanid Empire, where it appeared on gems taken from captured Roman soldiers.
But how did this Roman legend end up inspiring art in Central Asia? The likely link was Byzantium, the successor to ancient Rome. During the reign of Justinian I, Roman coins depicting the wolf and the twins were minted in bronze. These coins, along with medallion-like pendants inspired by them, found their way to Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, near the medieval region of Ilak (modern-day Ahangaran), a gold medallion with a wolf and twins was discovered during road repairs. This medallion featured an imperial bust on one side and the wolf and twins on the reverse, closely resembling the mural found at Bundzhikat. The inscription around the bust reads, «Our Lord Justinian, Perpetual Augustus.» It is believed that such coins and medallions inspired the Central Asian artists who decorated the royal halls and castles of the local dihqans (nobles).
In Ustrushana’s art, this foreign motif took on new meaning. It may have served as a visual symbol of the mythological ancestry of local rulers. Just as in the West, legends of noble foundlings raised by animals and shepherds were common in the East. In the totemistic traditions of Turkic and Mongol tribes, the wolf was revered as an ancestor. According to the «History of the Tang Dynasty,» the Turkic tribe of the Tujue (Göktürks) traced their origins to a she-wolf who gave birth to ten sons, each of whom founded a clan. To honor this lineage, one of her descendants, Ashina, raised a banner with a wolf’s head above his headquarters. In this way, local artists absorbed foreign cultural values and imbued traditional themes with fresh and relevant meaning.