The 8 day cultural trip to Iran - "Iranian Treasures" - (Day 4 afternoon cont.) - Isfahan, Masjed-e Jâme (cont.) Shabestan and Uljayto Mehrab, Beit al-shata Shabestan, Northern Ayvan and Taj al-Molk - The 19th of September 2014

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The Shabestan of Uljayto with its various brick columns and arches is said to have been constructed in the Muzaffarid era. The 1310 mehrab (altar) is one of the most exquisite monuments of the Ilkanid era. In stucco carved with very fine floral and geometrical patterns, as well as several inscriptions in thululk script and one in kufic the mehrab was definately the one piece that most caught our attention.

 

 

 

 

 

From this room we gained access to the winter mosque, with transverse vaulting springing from floor level.

 

 

 

 

 

Back into the courtyard we walked down to the next ayvan (Northern ayvan) known as the Soffe (meeting or sitting area) of the Darvishes. Its rather elegant plaster cartouches and lozenge-shaped decorations are said to have been part of the 1682 repairs undertaken during the reign of Safavid shah Soleyman. 

 

The heat was so strong that we could see several workers lying down sleeping (certainly during their after lunch break time).

 

From a door on the right hand side we were taken into another dome chamber, built by Taj-al-Molk Nizam al-Molk's political rival. Built in 1089 it is said to have functioned as a meditation or judicial chamber during the Seljuq ruler.

As we were going out a box containing a huge number of  small cut stones caught my attention. I was later told they were used during the prayers for worshippers not to directly put their heads on the carped floor, but on them instead.

It was only when I looked at my wrist-watch that I realised how big the Friday Mosque (Masjed-e Jâme) was and how long it had taken us to visit the whole ensemble, despite the fact that under normal circumstances it should have even taken longer.