Jamé Mosque of Isfahan
| Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
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| Location | Iran |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii |
| Reference | 1397 |
| UNESCO region | Asia-Pacific |
| Coordinates | 32°40′10″N 51°41′06″E / 32.669444°N 51.685°ECoordinates: 32°40′10″N 51°41′06″E / 32.669444°N 51.685°E |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2012 (36th Session) |
 Location in Iran
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The Jāmeh Mosque of Isfahān or Jāme' Mosque of Isfahān (Persian: مسجد جامع اصفهان – Masjid-e-Jāmeh Isfahān) is the grand, congregational mosque (Jāmeh) of Isfahān city, within Isfahān Province, Iran. The mosque is the result of continual construction, reconstruction, additions and renovations on the site from around 771 to the end of the 20th century. The Grand Bazaar of Isfahan can be found towards the southwest wing of the mosque. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.
Built in Isfahan during the Omayyad dynasty it is rumored in Isfahan that one of the pillars of this Masjid were personally built by the Caliph in Damascus. Prior to it becoming a Masjid it is said to have been a house of worship for Zoroastrians.
This is one of the oldest mosques still standing in Iran, and it was built in the four-iwan architectural style, placing four gates face to face. An iwan is a vaulted open room. The qibla iwan on the southern side of the mosque was vaulted with muqarnas during the 13th century. Muqarnas are niche-like cells.
Construction under the Seljuqs included the addition of two brick domed chambers, for which the mosque is renowned. The south dome was built to house the mihrab in 1086–87 by Nizam al-Mulk, the famous vizier of Malik Shah, and was larger than any dome known at its time. The north dome was constructed a year later by Nizam al-Mulk's rival Taj al-Mulk. The function of this domed chamber is uncertain. Although it was situated along the north-south axis, it was located outside the boundaries of the mosque. The dome was certainly built as a direct riposte to the earlier south dome, and successfully so, claiming its place as a masterpiece in Persian architecture for its structural clarity and geometric balance. Iwans were also added in stages under the Seljuqs, giving the mosque its current four-iwan form, a type which subsequently became prevalent in Iran and the rest of the Islamic world.
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