INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
mosque.Situated in the heart of Iran, the well-preserved place of worship features a variety of ancient architectural styles
However, the majority of what visitors see dates from the Seljuk era (ca
Its two-story hypostyle structure incorporates successive architectural styles of the Sassanids, Buyids, Seljuks, and Safavids.Iranica says
most of the Seljuk decoration is concentrated within the sanctuary while the dome chamber closely follows the pattern of the Isfahan school
in its multiple lower openings and its zone of transition.The earliest inscription on the building dates from the 12th/6th c
AH, but evidence of an earlier mosque remains, suggesting that its original foundation could date to the 10th-11th/4th-5th c
AH or earlier.According to Archnet, the earliest stucco fragments, found in the western corner of the courtyard, have been dated to the end
The interior of the dome chamber and iwan are extensively covered in plaster
The dome and zone of transition are articulated with simulated brickwork; the iwan vault is uniquely faced with a complex stucco design of
The mihrab exemplifies skilled stucco carving and may represent Mongol restoration.The mosque is essential for bigger premises that
incorporate mud-brick designs like storage, a caravanserai, a commercial center, a bathhouse, and a madrasa
The place of worship stands on a site once occupied by a Sasanian structure, as evidenced by remains discovered in archaeological
excavations.Its previous construction was probably a hypostyle type, having a focal yard encircled by arcades
Remains of some of these arcades in the current mosque show that they were covered with barrel vaults
The mosque occupies an irregular space centered on a rectangular courtyard with four iwans, incorporating pieces of the earlier hypostyle
The iwans on the southwest (qibla) and northeast sides of the courtyard are larger, rising to a greater height and being wider than well
Behind the southwest iwan is a square chamber surmounted by a dome resting on an octagonal transition zone formed by eight engaged arches
Between the iwans are vaulted bays of irregular size and shape on two stories
Behind the vaulted bays in the southern quadrant of the mosque, a long corridor leads from two entrances onto the vaulted bays on the
southeastern side of the courtyard.Moreover, the outside of the mosque is very unpredictable while the veneers of the yard are agreeable,
with the iwans adjusted and generally a similar size, much the same as the circumstance in the Great Mosque of Isfahan, which likewise
developed over hundreds of years and went through a significant redesign during the Seljuk time frame
Currently, the mosque has several entrances.Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest additions to the mosque that transformed its
plan from the original hypostyle type were likely the southwest iwan and dome chamber behind it (dated by inscriptions to 1158/553 AH and
1160/555 AH respectively).Iran has compiled a dossier for a possible inscription of the mosque on the UNESCO World Heritage list as the
where mandatory Friday prayers are performed.AM
