Archive for category: Iran Architecture

Blue Mosque the Turquoise of Islam
one Mosque of Tabriz Mozafariyeh Monument . built upon the order of Jahanshah . ebn – e shah-yusef,a ruler of the

Qara – Qoyunloo dynasty .

Attests to the  constructive efforts of this dynasty in an Tabriz and constitutes an example of the refined taste of the noble people of Iran. The perseverance  of whose fearless heroes is rooted in its history.The construction of the Blue Mosque of Tabriz was begun at the request of Khatun-Jan Beigom, the consort  of Johanshah, under the supervision of Ezz-ed-Din gamchi. and was completed in Rabi’-ol-Avval 870 AH / AD Oct.-Dec. 1465. A thorough examination of this monument reveal that its construction was based on a predetermined project comprising plans and decorative schemes prepared by eminent architects and artists of the time. The exterior appearance of the building bears a mystical character which calls upon devotees to Serenely approach the house of God, where the wish of joining the beloved fills the lovers’ mind. The artists in charge of the construction of the mosque ; utilizing indigo, turquoise-colored, white and black tiles in tessellated patterns, which represent the most perfect type of tie-work in the Islamic world. and benefiting from various delicate arabesque motifs have  created a masterpiece

unparalleled in the entire Islamic world. Tall Spaces . Well proportioned masses  and an exquisite decoration have brought into being a  composition which leaves the Viewer dazzled.Jahan shah had his dynastic mausoleum built in the southern part of the mosque, in a flawless organic unity with it. This adjacency was chosen in reason of the loftiness deriving from the

nearness with the house of God. The entrance of the mausoleum. has been intentionally  located inside the mosque so that visitor entranced by the heavenly atmosphere of the mosque may Pray  for the forgiveness of the deceased in all purity. The spandrels of the mausoleum are faced with 160 cm -high marble slabs on which verses from An-Naba’. Al-Bayyeneh and al-Farsurahs are engraved in thulth script on a background of fine arabesques. The adoption of thulth script on a background of delicate arabesques indicates the perspicacity of the engravers, who have combined the harmonious slow of God’s words with patterns as refined as man’s thought and as firm as his faith. The use of indigo tiles in a magnificent Oroder in the decoration of the mausoleum attests to the mastery of the artists of the the ninth century AH /15th century AD. who have been able, using simple hexagonal tiles, to give birth to an unequaled clcganece  – Although simple . the stalactite interior decoration of the mausoleum of jahan shah constitute an admirable example of ninth century architectural decoration .

The roof of the mausoleum and the main dome chamber of  the mosque. Which provably collapsed during an earthquake in 193 AH / AD 1779 – 8 was rebuilt in 1973 thanks to the efforts of the late master Reza Memaran .
A famous architect from Tabriz, and under the supervision of the National Organization for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments. The roof of the dome chamber, spanning 17 meters at a height of 20 meters, was rebuilt following a twin-layered method. The walls of the main prayer hall (dome chamber) are decorated with indigo, turquoise-colored, white and black tiles in various tessellated patterns. The use of verses from the Holy Qor’an. the names of God and episodes from the Prophet’s tradition in the tile-work decoration has further enhanced its majesty.The decoration of the lateral prayer hall, which follows that of the dome chamber. Complement the art and knowledge used throughout the mosque. The most beautiful tile –work of the mosque can be admired in its prayer niche. Stalactites faced with tessellated turquoise-colored, indigo, white and golden tiles and arabesques distinguish this prayer niche and its flanking walls.The arabesques in the tiles of the outer edge of the prayer niche are most elegant  and elaborate, indeed unique, laying the foundations of .a style which was later copied and perfected in the Safavid period. The main Portico of  mosque is adorned with tessellated tile-work, Qor’anic

inscriptions on thulth CP on indigo and white backgrounds, and panels of verses from the Holy Qor’an in masons, kufic script, displaying the besi example of the tile-work decoration of the Islamic period. Remains of tessellated  tile p work and  stalactite adornment on the exterior surfaces of the building indicate that these surfaces were entirely decorated in this manner. The diverse kusic. thuluh, naskh and ta’liq scripts, the exquisite arabesque patterns and the admirable chromatic compositions of these facades, which are truly stupendous, were created by Ne’matollah ebn-e Mohammad al-Bavvab the famous artist of the ninth century A.H. The bequeathal document of the mosque, written in 869 AH / AD 1464-5, certifies that hundreds of villages: caravansaries, bathhouses and markets were bequeathed to the Mozaffariyeh ensemble, with the death of Jahanshah in 872 AH / AD 1467-8 during a war with Uzun-Hassan Bayandor, the founder of the Aq-Qoyunloo dynasty. the enlargement and completion of the mosque remained unfinished. and the restoration of the mosque and the completion of the ensemble were Resumed by Jahanshah’s daughter. Saleheh Khatun, during the reign of uzun-Hassan’s successor, Soltan Ya’qub. As extant documents indicate this majestic monument was extensively damaged by the earthquake and snow. Rainwater and harsh winters in subsequent years damaged the remaining decoration and tile-works. In 1318 As AD 1939 the main portico of the mosque,

and in 1327 AS / AD 1948 and  1328  AS / AD 1949 some of its  walls were restored by Esma’il Dibaj and Haj-Ahalqassem  Me’mar Also .

Necessary protective restorations have been carried out in recent years , and now one Blue Mosque so solid enough and apt to be utilized.
The brick dome  of the Blue Mosque of Tabriz is one of to larges brick constructions created by Muslim architects in the ninth century , AH (870 H /  AD 1465-6), who perpetuated the 11 -khanid architecture . The distribution of the domes weight on a multitude of pillars , visible inside the  Blue Mosque. was one the greatest achievements of Iranian architects in the course of this country’s history which was rooted in the ancient pass particularly ,the Sasanian period. The stone spandrels. uniform exterior brick surfaces and great height of this building well display the majesty of the Blue Mosque. Extensive attention to the interior decoration and its suppression on the outside are expressive of the introvert architecture of the Qara – Qoyunloo period. The architectural style and the tessellated tile-work within the main prayer hall. particularly on the massive walls of the dome chamber illustrates the culmination of the trend begun in Iran in the early 8th century AH / 14 th century AD. reaching an exceptional degree of perfection in the Blue Mosque .