Mosques of Iran
In the Houses of Worship series’, at this time, we will introduce you to some of the astonishing mosques of Iran.
Isfahan Mosque
Also known as Masjid-e Jameh, the Great Mosque or Friday Mosque, Isfahan Mosque is one of the symbol mosques representing the empery of Seljuks in Iran. A very famous vizier of the era, Nizam al-Mulk personally renovated it and built the largest dome ever built until then. The dome was built according to the golden ratio. The most important feature of the mosque is that many additional buildings and renovations were made on it without disrupting its main structure. It stretches across the whole city and all of its gates open to the streets of Isfahan. It is a unique mosque that has many cultural-specific features. In fact, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
Blue Mosque
Also known as Majid-e Kabud, Blue Mosque is famous for its fascinating blue majolica tiles. Its construction began in the 15th century by the order of Jahan Shah, the ruler of the Black Sheep Turkomans. After the downfall of their monarchy, the construction was taken over by the White Sheep confederacy. The mosque was built by using bricks only while many techniques were used in its design and attire. Even though the Blue Mosque was damaged during the mid-15th century due to natural disasters, it was well-preserved by the help of renovations.
Shah Mosque
Shah Mosque is adorned with blue majolica tiles which are a cultural symbol for Isfahan mosques. The construction of the mosque started in 1611 and was completed in 1629 after an 18-year-long meticulous and hard work. The interior of the mosque is like a clock showing the direction of qıbla following the sun, and when the acoustics of the masjid is analyzed, the proof of great wisdom and neat work can be observed. According to the research, there are 49 different resonances in the mosque, but the human ear can only hear 12.
Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque
Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque was built in the 17th century by the order of Shah Abbas in Isfahan. It is an impressive example of Iran architecture. The mosque is filled with an authentic atmosphere and it is one of the most important structures of Safavids. What makes this mosque different is that it was built without any minarets or a yard, however, the beauty of the glamorous adornments on the wall are a feast for one’s eyes. Especially the peacock figures on the dome give off a magical vibe. The applied calligraphy technique along with the use of floral and geometrical patterns in its attire reveals the uniqueness of Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque.
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque
It might be one of the most colourful mosques that exist. Located in Shiraz, Nasir al-Mulk Mosque was built in 1876 by the order of Qajar King Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir al-Mulk. It is also called “The Pink Mosque” due to the colours of its interior design. With the first rays of sun in the morning, one can see an array of rainbow colours; however, this miraculous display cannot be seen later in the day. The Ottoman-Persian and old Turkish civilizations’ traces can be seen in the attire and the design of the mosque. Unlike other mosques, the interior of the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is even more interesting and beautiful than its exterior.
