Ancient Jameh Mosque of Esfahan
The Jameh Mosque of Esfahan is a veritable museum of Islamic architecture and still a working mosque. Within a couple of hours you can see and compare the 800 years of Islamic design. with each example near to the pinnacle of its age.
The range of what to visit inside the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan is quite stunning; from the geometric elegance of the seljuks time, through to the mongol period and on to the refinements of the more baroque Safavid style. At more than 20,000 sq metes, the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan it is not only an Esfahan Tourist Attractions But, the biggest mosque in Iran.
Ancient Jameh Mosque of Esfahan
The Jameh Mosque of Esfahan located in the most historic quarter of Isfahan, the Jameh, Or Friday Mosque can be seen as a stunning illustration of the evolution of mosque architecture over twelve centuries, starting in AD 841. It is the oldest preserved edifice of Mosque type in Iran and a prototype for later mosque designs throughout Central Asia. The complex, covering more than 20,000 m2, is also the first Islamic building that adapted the four-courtyard Iwan layout of Sassanid palaces to Islamic religious architecture. Its double-shelled ribbed domes represent an architectural innovation that inspired builders throughout the region. The site also features remarkable decorative details representative of stylistic developments over more than a thousand years of Islamic art.
Guide to visit
In the center of the main courtyard, which is surrounded by four contrasting Iwans, is an attractive ablutions fountaion which designed to imitate the Kaaba at Mecca; would be haji pilgrims would use it to practise the appropriate the courtyard’s perimeter were constructed in the late 15th century.
The South Iwan is the most elaborate, with Mongol era stalactite moldings, some splendid 15th century mosaics on the side walls which contain some of what remains from th eJameh Mosque Original plan.
The northern Iwan
The north Iwan of the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan has a wonderful monumental porch with the Seljuk’s customary Kufic inscriptions and austere brick pillars in the sanctuary.
The western Iwan
The West Iwan of the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan was originally built by the Seljuks but later decorated by the Safavids in the 16th century. The West iwan if the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan it had mosaics that are more geometric than those of the Southern hall. The courtyard is topped by small raised platform with a conical roof form where the faithful used to be called to prayer.
The room of Sultan Uljeito and winter hall
While you are in Jameh Mosque of Isfahan and to fully appreciate the mosque you must visit the fine interior rooms, The room of Sultan Uljeito from 14th century is home to one of the mosque’s treasures, an exquisite stucco mihrab awash with dense Quranic inscriptions and floral designs. Next door is the Timurid era Winter hall that was built in 1448 and lit by alabaster skylights.
The Nezam ol Molk and Taj ol Molk dome
The room beneath the grand Nezam al molk Dome and the Saljuk era hypostyle prayers hall either side just breathe history, while at the other end of the complex the Taj al Molk Dome is widely considered to be the finest brick dome ever built, the Taj al molk dome is while relatively small, it is said to be mathematically perfect and has survived dozens of earthquakes with nary a blemish for more than 900 years, The two Nezam al Molk & Taj al Molk Dome are among the oldest parts of the mosque.