Blue Mosque, Tabriz

The Blue Mosque of Tabriz
Shown within Iran
Basic information
Location Iran Tabriz, Iran
Geographic coordinates 38°04′24.91″N 46°18′03.88″E / 38.0735861°N 46.3010778°E / 38.0735861; 46.3010778Coordinates: 38°04′24.91″N 46°18′03.88″E / 38.0735861°N 46.3010778°E / 38.0735861; 46.3010778
Affiliation Shia Islam
Municipality Tabriz County
Province East Azerbaijan Province
Architectural description
Architectural type Mosque
Completed 1465
The grand entrance Ivan of Blue Mosque, Tabriz, Iran
exterior view of Blue Mosque, Tabriz

The Blue Mosque (Azerbaijani: گؤی مسجید, Goy Masjed; Persian: مسجد کبود‎, Masjed-e Kabūd) is a famous historic mosque in Tabriz, Iran. The mosque and some other public buildings were constructed in 1465 upon the order of Jahan Shah, the ruler of Kara Koyunlu.[1]

vault corridors of Blue Mosque, Tabriz

The mosque was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1780,[2] leaving only the iwan (entrance hall).[3] Reconstruction began in 1973 by Reza Memaran Benam under the supervision of Iranian Ministry of Culture. However, it is still incomplete.

interior view of main hall, Blue Mosque, Tabriz, Iran

History

Plan of the Blue Mosque reconstruction.

The Blue mosque of Tabriz was built upon the order of Jahan Shah the ruler of Kara Koyunlu dynasty which made Tabriz the capital of his Kingdom. His Kingdom covered major parts of modern Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. He was killed by Uzun Hassan (the ruler of Ak Koyunlu) and buried on the only parts of the mosque that survived.

The mausoleum was built in the southern section of the mosque and is entirely covered with high marble slabs on which verses from Quran are engraved in Thuluth script on a background of fine arabesques. The roof of the mausoleum and the main dome chamber of the mosque collapsed during an earthquake in 1780. The mosque was rebuilt in 1973. Reconstruction is performed by plans and supervision of Mohammad Reza Memaran Benam, a traditional architect from Tabriz, with authority of the Iranian Organization of Cultural Heritages.

Calligraphy

The diverse Kufic, and Thuluth scripts, the arabesque patterns, and the choramatic compositions of these facades, were created by Nematollah-ben-Mohammad-ol-Bavab, the famous calligrapher. The walls inside and outside had been covered with mosaic tiles.

Notes

  1. ↑ Newman 2006, p. 158.
  2. ↑ Melville 1981, p. 170.
  3. ↑ Berberian 2014, p. 224.


References

  • Melville, Charles (1981). "Historical Monuments and Earthquakes in Tabriz". Iran. 19: 159–77.
  • Newman, Andrew J (2006). Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire. I.B. Tauris.
  • Berberian, Manuel (2014). Shroder Jr., J.F., ed. Earthquakes and Coseismic Surface Faulting on the Iranian Plateau. 17. Elsevier.
  • Persian Bulletin of Blue Mosque, Iranian Cultural Heritages Organization.
  • http://www.eachto.ir

See also

Media related to Blue Mosque (Tabriz) at Wikimedia Commons


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