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<A HREF = "north.gif"> <IMG SRC="north16.gif" WIDTH=293 HEIGHT=175 ALIGN="LEFT" ALT="View from Northern Bank"></A><H1 ALIGN="Right">Si-o-Seh Pol<BR>The Bridge of 33 Arches</H1><BR CLEAR="All">
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This is probably one of the most famous of Isfahan's bridges. It is made up of a series of 33 arches and
was commissioned in 1602 by <A HREF = "../glossary/abbas1.html">Shah Abbas I</A> from one of
his Generals. The name - <I>Si-o-Seh Pol</I> is derived from the Farsi for 33 (Si-o-Seh). The
bridge is built on a series of pontoons of great width and there is a famous <A HREF =
"33pol_below.gif">tea-house </A> amongst them which is accessible from the southern bank.<BR>
The bridge was originally known as the Bridge of <B>Allahverdi Khan</B> who was responsible
for its construction. The lower level of 33 arches is surmounted by a second layer, with one arch above
each of the pontoons and two arches above the lower single arch, giving it its name and rhythmic
appearance. The road along the top is sandwiched between high walls which give some shelter from
the wind as well as protection for travellers who can walk along the footpaths on either side to avoid
the crush of the traffic. Originally there were frescoes on the walls which <B>Sir William
Ousely</B>, who saw them in 1823, felt to be dangerous for the morals of passers by!<BR>
The bridge itself is 295m long and 13.75m wide. The thirty four piers on which it is constructed are
3.49m thick and the arches are 5.57m wide. The southern side of the bridge, where the waters of the
Zayandeh run more swiftly has supplementary arches, and it is this that makles them suitable as a tea
house. The bridge acted as a springboard for the development of the <A HREF =
"../khajou/khajou.html">Khajou Bridge</A> some 50 years later.<BR>
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<A HREF = "../glossary/author/author.html"> <IMG ALT="Up Arrow"SRC ="../up16.gif"></A>
West to the Park of Jean Chardin<BR>
<A HREF = "../enghelab/enghelab.html"> <IMG ALT="Right Arrow"SRC ="../right16.gif"></A>
North to the Meidan-e-Enghelab<BR>
<A HREF = "../khajou/khajou.html"> <IMG ALT="Down Arrow"SRC ="../down16.gif"></A> East
to the Khajou Bridge<BR>
<A HREF = "../jolfa/jolfa.html"> <IMG ALT="Left Arrow"SRC ="../left16.gif"></A> South to the
Armenian suburb of Jolfa<BR>
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<A HREF = "../khakopol.html"> <IMG ALT="Palace Icon"SRC ="../polbtn16.gif"></A> Other
Bridges and Palaces<BR>
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03-February-95
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