Why was the mosque of Isfahan built?
Far from being an insular sacred monument, the mosque facilitated public mobility and commercial activity thus transcending its principal function as a place for prayer alone. The mosque’s core structure dates primarily from the 11th century when the Seljuq Turks established Isfahan as their capital.
Where is the Masjid I Jami?
Isfahan
The Great Mosque of Isfahan in Iran is unique in this regard and thus enjoys a special place in the history of Islamic architecture. Its present configuration is the sum of building and decorating activities carried out from the 8th through the 20th centuries.
What is the Great mosque of Isfahan known for?
It is the oldest preserved edifice of its 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 layout of Sassanid palaces to Islamic religious architecture.
Who Built Great mosque of Isfahan?
Great Mosque of Eṣfahān The central sanctuary was built under the direction of Niẓām al-Mulk, vizier to the Seljuq ruler Malik-Shāh, probably between 1070 and 1075.
What does ostrich eggs represent in Djenne?
At the top of the pillars are conical extensions with ostrich eggs placed at the very top—symbol of fertility and purity in the Malian region. Timber beams throughout the exterior are both decorative and structural.
Where is Jameh Mosque of Isfahan?
Location of Jameh Mosque of Isfahan in Iran. 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.
When was the first Isfahan mosque built?
The Abbasids rebuilt it in 840-41 CE in a typical hypostyle plan. The Buyids, who established the first local dynasty, enlarged it between 908-32 CE. The mosque reached an unprecedented position under the Seljuks who made Isfahan their capital .
What is it about Isfahan?
It is an architectural documentary, visually embodying the political exigencies and aesthetic tastes of the great Islamic empires of Persia. Street view of the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan with the Great Mosque dome in the distance (photo: Saif Alnuweiri, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
What is the significance of the Seljuq mosque in Isfahan?
While the new square and its adjoining buildings, renowned for their exquisite decorations, renewed Isfahan’s prestige among the early modern cities of the world, the significance of the Seljuq mosque and its influence on the population was not forgotten.