B.024 Muqarnas in Southwest Iwan

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Creator

Denis Baly

Creation Year

January 1967

Image ID

B.024

Alternate Identifier

B02.024

Subcollection

B: Mosques of Isfahan

Abstract

Close-up of muqarnas elements in the southwest iwan of the Friday mosque. Each element has been adorned with a geometric Arabic inscription. -MA

Description

A closer view of the superb muqarnas construction of the southwest iwan that consists of giant basic elements and niches. "The four iwans [of the Friday mosque] are not of equal importance and this fact is reflected in their different dimensions, structure, and decorative motifs. The southwest iwan, preceding the domed chamber with the mihrab, is the most prominent among the other iwans. Visually, it is flanked by two towers and referred to in the vernacular as suffa-i sahib or 'the high [dignified] space of the master.' The iwan, which is an element of early Islamic palace architecture (e.g., Sassanian), is used here for the first time to precede the maqsura and to emphasize the space of the sanctuary. The three other iwans in the middle of each court elevation repeat this motif." -MA

References

"Masjid-i Jami'" Archnet. Accessed April 07, 2017. https://archnet.org/sites/1621.

Image Notes

Photograph created 1967. Photograph processed September 1967. Formerly cataloged as B.02.024. Notes written on the slide or index: Friday Mosque.

Image Format

35 mm slide

Geographic Reference

Isfahan, Iran