Al-Nabi Mosque, Qazvin
Encyclopedia
The al-Nabi Mosque is a famous mosque in Qazvīn
. The mosque has an area of about 14,000m², and bears inscriptions indicating that Fath Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty
was the founder of the mosque. Other sources however indicate that the mosque has been in existence since the Safavid period. It is now believed that the architect of the structure was Ustad Mirza Shirazi with the date of construction being 1787.
There was formerly an elevated minaret
flanking the dome, of which the French explorer Madame Jane Dieulafoy had written. The mosque has four iwan
s in its courtyard.
The portal contains an inscription in nastaliq calligraphy dated 1787 CE. Similar to Qazvin's Masjed e Jame (Congregation Mosque)
, this mosque has a shabestan
that is now used as a library.
Qazvin
Qazvin is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin in Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 349,821, in 96,420 families....
. The mosque has an area of about 14,000m², and bears inscriptions indicating that Fath Ali Shah of the Qajar dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
was the founder of the mosque. Other sources however indicate that the mosque has been in existence since the Safavid period. It is now believed that the architect of the structure was Ustad Mirza Shirazi with the date of construction being 1787.
Specifications
Its double layered dome measures 15m in inner-diameter, with the top of the inner layer positioned at 20.83m above ground level, while the external apex is 23.25m high.There was formerly an elevated minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
flanking the dome, of which the French explorer Madame Jane Dieulafoy had written. The mosque has four iwan
Iwan
An iwan is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The formal gateway to the iwan is called pishtaq, a Persian term for a portal projecting from the facade of a building, usually decorated with calligraphy bands, glazed tilework, and...
s in its courtyard.
The portal contains an inscription in nastaliq calligraphy dated 1787 CE. Similar to Qazvin's Masjed e Jame (Congregation Mosque)
Jame' Atiq Mosque of Qazvin
The Ancient Jāmeh Mosque of Qazvīn is one of the oldest mosques in Iran, and is the grand, congregational mosque of Qazvīn city, in Qazvin Province, Iran.-Specifications:...
, this mosque has a shabestan
Shabestan
A Shabestan or Shabistan is an underground space that can be usually found in traditional architecture of mosques, houses, and schools in ancient Persia ....
that is now used as a library.
See also
- List of Mosques in Iran
- Iranian architectureIranian architectureIranian architecture or Persian architecture is the architecture of Iran . It has a continuous history from at least 5000 BCE to the present, with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Turkey to North India and the borders of China and from the Caucasus to Zanzibar...
- Islamic architectureIslamic architectureIslamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....