It is presumed that this was the original entrance to the shrine and that the wooden grill at the base of the picture replaced the original door. However the presence of the panel decorated with a honeycomb motif above this grill suggests that it was always meant to hold a window or "panjareh", as at present, since the entrance would have been an archway.
The archnet of the semidome is spectacular, and the side walls are ornamented with fine decagonal decorative panels. The inscription above the honeycomb panel recalls the patron of the original shrine, Jalal al-Din Safarshah who recognised the authority of the Qara-Quiunlu ruler of Western Iran at that time, Jahan Shah, and his son Muhammedi, who had been appointed as governor of Isfahan.
"During the time that the ruler of the greatest kingdom, and the governor of the largest dominion, the padishah, the Refuge of the world, Abu'l-Muzaffar Amirzadeh Jahan Shah, may God preserve his reign, had entruested the rule of this province to the charge and direction of the Prince of the World, the Support of the Pillars of the Muslim Religion, Abu'l-Fath Muhammedi, may God preserve his Sultanate, the most noble Amir-e-A'zam, the source of strength and protection, Jalal al-Din Safarshah, may God increase his reign, carried out the construction of this lofty buq'ah and precious building, seeking the pleasure of God in 857 (1453)"
Trans. J. Clinton in "The Timurid Architecture of Iran and Turan", Lisa Golombek & Donald Wilber, 1988, Princeton University Press.
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Entrance20-January-95
Isfahan
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