Imam Khomeini Mosque (Shah Mosque)

Imam Khomeini Mosque (Shah Mosque)

A masterpiece of Persian Islamic architecture, known for its seven-color mosaic tiles, calligraphic inscriptions, and a large dome. The Abbasid Grand Mosque, also known as the Sultan Mosque, was called the Shah Mosque during the Safavid era, but after the 1979 revolution, its official name was changed to the Imam Mosque. This building is the most important historical mosque in Isfahan and one of the mosques in Naqsh-e Jahan Square, which was built during the Safavid era and is considered one of the important buildings of Islamic architecture in Iran. This building is considered a masterpiece of architecture, tile work, and carpentry of the 11th century AH. The Shah Mosque was registered as one of the national monuments of Iran on 15 Di 1310 and, together with Naqsh-e Jahan Square, is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The construction of this mosque, located on the southern side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, began in 1020 AH by order of Shah Abbas I, in the twenty-fourth year of his reign, and its decorations and additions were completed during the reign of his successors. Shah Abbas built the mosque to rejoice the soul of his grandfather, Shah Tahmasp.

The architect of the Shah Mosque was Ustad Ali Akbar Isfahani and the construction supervisor was Mohib Ali Bekollah; and calligraphers such as Ali Reza Abbasi, Abdul Baqi Tabrizi, Mohammad Reza Emami, and Mohammad Saleh Emami wrote inscriptions on it. It is known that during the construction of this building, a number of marble mines were discovered around Isfahan, which were used as a source to provide the materials needed for the construction of the mosque.

History of the Abbasid Grand Mosque of Isfahan

The Abbasid Grand Mosque was also known in the past as the Shah Mosque and the New Sultan Mosque. The Abbasid Grand Mosque dates back to the Safavid period and is said to have been built on the orders of Shah Abbas Safavi. The construction of this mosque began during the time of Shah Abbas Safavi and was completed during the time of Shah Safi. This building, which is considered one of the architectural masterpieces, was originally built in the 11th century AH. The construction of this mosque continued until 1095 AH, and in recent years, only the decorations of the mosque were completed.

Architecture of the Abbasid Grand Mosque of Isfahan

This mosque is a landmark in Islamic architecture and its architecture is of interest to tourists from various aspects. This mosque, which is located in the Naghsh-e-Jahan Square of Isfahan, has always attracted the attention of tourists and visitors due to its unique location. The building of this mosque has special features, including having four minarets, using seven-colored clay tiles for decorations, having the most beautiful doorway among Iranian mosques, having one of the largest written tiles among historical monuments in Iran, and the reflection of sound in it. The main architect of this building was Master Ali Akbar Isfahani, and he used all his taste and art to make this unique building shine. The height of the dome of this mosque is 52 meters, and it can be said that it is among the mosques with the largest dome. This historical and cultural attraction was registered as a national monument in 1310. The mosque has several entrances, one of which is from the side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square and several other entrances are from the surrounding neighborhoods. This mosque has four porches that are very magnificent and solidly built around the central courtyard. As mentioned, one of the architectural features of this mosque is the reflection of sound in it, and even the smallest sound is reflected in it.