The rise of Shahi-Zinda necropolis on a slope of Afrasiab hill is connected with Kusam ibn Abbas, the Prophet's cousin. We know that he took part in the first Arab campaigns to Maverannahr. Accord­ing to a legend, Kusam was mortally wounded at Samarkand walls and hid underground where he goes on living. That gave the name for the necropolis— "Shahi-Zinda"—"king is alive”. By 10th—11th centuries Kusam ibn Abbas had been con­sidered as a martyr, Islamic saint and the patron of Samarkand. In 12th—15th centu­ries there was constructed a complex of mausoleums and mosques along the path leading to Kusam's mausoleum. The com­plex seems to deny death.