Blue Mosque, Tabriz

For other uses, see Blue Mosque (disambiguation).

The Blue Mosque of Tabrīz
مسجد کبود
Religion
Affiliation	Shia Islam
Province	East Azerbaijan Province
Location
Location	Tabrīz, Iran
Municipality	Tabrīz County
Geographic coordinates	38°04′24.91″N 46°18′03.88″E
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Completed	1465

The Blue Mosque (Azerbaijani: Göy məscid; Persian: مسجد کبود - Masjed-e Kabūd) is a famous historic mosque in Tabrīz, Iran. The mosque and some other public buildings were constructed in 1465 upon the order of Jahan Shah, the ruler of Kara Koyunlu.

The mosque was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1779, leaving only the entrance iwan. Reconstruction began in 1973 by the late Reza Memaran Benam under the supervision of Iranian Ministry of Culture. However, the tiling is still incomplete.

History

Plan of the Blue Mosque reconstruction.

The Blue mosque of Tabriz was built upon the order of Jahan Shah the ruler of Kara Koyunlu dynasty which made Tabriz the capital of his Kingdom. His Kingdom covered major parts of modern Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. He was killed by Uzun Hassan (the ruler of Ak Koyunlu) and buried on the only parts of the mosque that survived.

The mausoleum was built in the southern section of the mosque and is entirely covered with high marble slabs on which verses from Quran are engraved in Thulth script on a background of fine arabesques. The roof of the mausoleum and the main dome chamber of the mosque collapsed during an earthquake in 1779 A.D. and was rebuilt in 1973 thanks to the efforts of Reza Memaran Benam (a famous architect from Tabriz) under the supervision of the national organization for preservation of ancient monuments.

Calligraphy

The diverse Kufic, and Thuluth scripts, the arabesque patterns, and the choramatic compositions of these facades, were created by Nematollah-ben-Mohammad-ol-Bavab, the famous calligrapher. The walls inside and outside had been covered with mosaic tiles.

Photo gallery

• 
  The Blue Mosque entrance.
• 
  Entrance
• 
  Inside
• 
  One of the inner doors.
• 
  Entrance (night)
• 
  The Blue Mosque in 1969
• 
  Inside (night)
• 
  Inside (night)
• 
  Inside (night)
• 
  Jahan Shah Grave at Southern Part of the Mosque.\\
• 
  The Blue mosque before reconstruction.
• 
  Ruins of Blue Mosque, Eugène Flandin 1841.
• 
  A 19th century sketch of blue mosque.
• 
  Painting of Blue mosque by a French tourist, Jules Laurens, 1872.

See also

• List of Mosques in Iran
• Iron Age museum
• Khaqani Park
• Iranian architecture

References

• Persian Bulletin of Blue Mosque, Iranian Cultural Heritages Organization.
• http://www.eachto.ir

External links

Media related to Blue Mosque (Tabriz) at Wikimedia Commons

• Blue Mosque (Kaboud Mosque) introduction in UNESCO web site
• Tishineh