Masjed-e-Jomeh - The Southern Eivan

This eivan or portico leads into some of the oldest parts of the mosque which are reputedly built on an old sacred Zoroastrian fire temple, although current thinking is that this is unlikely. Nevertheless, when you are visiting a constant stream of Isfahanis will come and regale you with this story. The only fully authenticated site for one of tghese is the atashgah, a few kilometres to the west of the city. The wealth of detail and artistic ingenuity on this eivan, as shown above, is quite remarkable and dates from the Seljuk to Safavid periods.

The foundations for this porch were laid during the Seljuk period at the start of the 12th Century by Nizam Al Mulk, although there was certainly an older building of some kind here. The roof was rebuilt by Ouzun Hassan Beik Aq-Quiunlu in 1475/6 according to an inscription in the interior and the two minarets were added at the same time. The marble plinths and some of the raised mosaic tilework inside the eivan date from Ouzun Hassan's time and the latter are probably made by the same hand as those in the contemporary Darb-e-Imam. Further extensive modifications took place under Shah Tahmasb.

Enter the Eivan

East to the Seljuk Cloisters

West to the Western Eivan

North to the Central Fountain

Back to the Entrance

Other Mosques and Shrines

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27-February-95