Jameh Mosque of Varamin

Coordinates: 35°19′N 51°39′E / 35.32°N 51.65°E / 35.32; 51.65
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Grand Mosque of Varamin
مسجد جامع ورامین
Tehran, Iran
Jameh Mosque of Varamin is located in Iran
Jameh Mosque of Varamin
Shown within Iran
Geographic coordinates35°19′N 51°39′E / 35.32°N 51.65°E / 35.32; 51.65
Architecture
Architect(s)Ali Qazvini
Completed1322
Specifications
Length66 meters
Width43 meters

Jāmeh Mosque of Varāmīn (

Tehran Province of Iran
. This mosque is one of the oldest buildings of Varamin city. Its construction began during the reign of Sultan Mohammad Khodabaneh and was completed during his son’s, Abu Sa'id Bahadur Khan, rule in 1322.[1] This building consists of a shabestan, portico, large brick dome, the structure beside shabestan and ten small arches along with one large arch in the middle.[2][3]

Architecture

The plan of the building is a rectangle measuring about 66 meters by 43 meters.

Ilkhanid buildings and is decorated with intricate tiles. [7] The dome of the mosque is a square room measuring 10.5 by 10.5 meters,[4] which elevates in an octagonal shape, then a hexagon, and finally a dome with the help of squinches. The dome, the walls, even the squinches[8] are decorated with bricks, tiles and plaster. [7] Pirnia believes that the dome has two shells and the upper shell has been destroyed and only the lower shell remains. [6]The eastern porch which is an auxiliary entrance compared to the main entrance. The western porch, however, has no entrance and consists of two rows of columns. This portico was completely destroyed and has been rebuilt during the contemporary restorations of the building. [5]

The dome
"'Amal-i 'Ali Qazvini ḫudāyaš Biyāmurzād"
(Inscription on the eastern porch: "Work of Ali Qazvini, May his God forgives him")
The central courtyard
Parts of the mosque

History and restorations

In the sixth century A.H., the family of Abu Sa'd Varamini, a wealthy Shia family from that era, built a mosque in Varamin, but the current building was built in 722 A.H. (1322 CE) by the order of Izz al-Din al-Quhadhi. Apparently, the mosque was damaged due to a disaster, and in the ninth century A.H. (15th century CE), Amir Yusef Khajeh ordered the building to be restored. After that, it was not maintained for 500 years. [5] For instance, Jane Dieulafoy, who visited the mosque during the Qajar period, wrote that no one prays there as peasants are afraid if the dome collapses and 'infidel foreigners' can watch it without any restrictions. [9] This mosque was registered in Iran's national list of heritage buildings in 1932 CE and its current boundaries were defined. It was excavated by archaeologists in 1960s and 1970s and was restored in the 80s.[5]

Drawing by Jane Dieulafoy, 1881
Photograph by Robert Byron, 1935
In 2022
Varamin mosque through the years

See also

References