Samarkand

[Tetra Master]

thanks. I used to stay here also because of different things to learn.

 

[Bambi]

It certainly looks a lot like the ruins to me!

 

[eisprinz]

It superficially looks similar to Zanarkand, but the only actual similarity is the fact that both are in ruins at some point. Compare a picture of Tidus' Zanarkand (at the beginning of the game) with structures from the Ayutthaya period of Thailand - you'll see the similarity in the round spire pagodas that dot ancient Zanarkand.

However, I'm sure that the name, as well as certain cultural connotations of Zanarkand were based on Samarkand - but not very much of the architecture or other physical stylings.

 

[Ayako Hikumi]

In the interviews, most of the guys at Square-Enix did say that they were inspired by Asia, and so forth.

And the name does sound similar ...

 

[Twilight Dawn]

to say the truth this seems rather old and zanarkand is full of machina and stuff...