Zoroastrian crypt silence tower

best Zoroastrian crypts or silence tower of Yazd

Remembrance of corpses in Zoroastrian crypt

The Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower is a place where the Zoroastrians placed the bodies of the dead in these places based on the belief that the corpses were impure so that the flesh of these dead bodies could be eaten by predators and birds. According to Zoroastrians, burying a human corpus contaminated the sacred element of the soil.

In Zoroastrianism, mourning for the dead is forbidden. In ancient times, there was no building as a crypt, and corpus were placed only in remote places to be destroyed. The use of the term refers to a time when the Aryan tribes burned the corpus of the dead and the burial sites were called Crypt.

 With the advent of Zoroastrianism, the custom of burning the body became obsolete; But the crypt remained in place and was used to mean the location of the deceased or the burial place of the case.

The architecture of the caves

The Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower is a circular area that is located 100 meters above the mountain and is far from the city. The walls around the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower were made of stone and cement, and a small iron door was installed for entry and exit. The crypts had special sections, each with a specific function. The various sections of the crypt included the crypt road, in stone or iron court, the crypt inscription, the male-female ring, the female-female ring, the child-ring of the child, and the master or coffin. Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower were built so that carnivorous animals and birds could access the corpus with the passage of time and changes in the religion of Zoroaster, the function of the Crypt became more complicated, and from then on, the corpses of the dead were removed by light. The tombs were cylindrical towers made of stone so that they would not be made of soil.

 Most of them probably did not even have a door and went inside them with a ladder. Natural stone was found and the dead were tied to it, then vultures and carnivores ate and cleaned the dead body except for the bones. In the middle of this tower, there was a hole in which the surviving bones of ordinary people were thrown and the bones of the great and powerful were kept in “Ostudan” or “Asadaneh”.

Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower road

Because the crypt was so far from where people lived, they had to use the road to reach it. Part of this road was used by the public to bring corpus for delivery; But from the bottom of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower to the door, only the crypt officials were allowed to cross. Today, the road that has been used for transportation is a staircase so that people can easily go to the caves.

Inside the crypt

The inner surface of the tower consists of a flat, round space covered by large boulders. This section hypothetically consists of three circular strips, which are:

The male part or the male corpus ring in the end circle strip, which is larger than the other circles and attached to the wall around the crypt.

The female section or the female dead ring is in the middle circle bar after the male section.

The children’s section or the children’s dead circle in the inner circle bar, which is the closest part to the center of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower.

A hole in the middle of a rocky ground

The inner surface of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower has a slope from the wall to the center and in the middle of the crypt reaches a deep well with a moving rock called “ervis” at the bottom. This deep well was connected to the four deeper wells around the crypt, and one meter deep all the wells were filled with sand. The middle well of the crypt was covered with stone and cement so that germs and contamination would not spread outside when the bones were present and before the well was cleaned. The name of this tea means bone place.

The ritual of building a tomb

The construction of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower also had a special ritual that had to be observed. Among these ceremonies, we can mention the tradition of hitting 4 large nails, 36 medium nails and 260 small nails on the ground. The builders wrapped a special cotton string around the nails and recited some special Zoroastrian prayers. After this stage, they had to sit in the middle of the crypt and read a certain zikr 300 times, with each zikr a small stone was thrown into the crypt until the number of stones reached 300. After performing these rituals, the crypt was built in this place.

last word

The cemetery of good and bad people. The cemetery that invited people away from memories. It was a place to transfer from this mortal world to the next world. This place, which has a special etiquette, is related to Zoroastrian religion, who believed that man is born from nature and returns to nature.

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yazd | Amir chakhmaq mosque

Jameh Mosque of Yazd

Jameh Mosque of Yazd

 

Jameh Mosque of Yazd with a history of 900 years, is one of the most magnificent and beautiful historical buildings and sights of Yazd province, which is located in the center of the Yazd city with high minarets. Jameh Mosque of Yazd is a porch in the heart of the desert and has been built for about 1000 years and three periods. The main foundations of the mosque were laid on a fire temple during the Sassanid period, but after Islam in the patriarchal and Timurid period, it was completed as a mosque.

Jameh Mosque of Yazd is the oldest example of architecture in the ninth century AH in the architecture of the religious district of Yazd. The length of Yazd Grand Mosque is 104 meters and its width is 99 meters and it has seven entrances. These seven entrances are connected to several alleys and exit routes. In the past, the mosque was located in the middle of the old city, in the middle of the fence.

This building is famous for its sleeping dome, high and tall entrance, as well as beautiful and unique tiles. Jameh Mosque of Yazd is really a combination of three mosques that have been formed in different historical periods.

History

 

The original builder of this mosque was Ala Al-Dawlah Kalnjar, a descendant of Al-Buwayh and ruler of Yazd during the reign of the Seljuk king. His buildings have been destroyed. After him, Sayyid Rukn al-Din Nizam al-Husseini built the current Jameh Mosque with a luxurious building on a large plot of land on the side of the Qibla.

Rokn al-Din died while the building of the dome and porch was unfinished, and after him Ashraf al-Din Ali Yazdi, one of the famous Yazd in the Timurid period, completed the construction of the dome and porch according to the will of Seyyed Rokn al-Din. After this, during the reign of Amir Teymour, the dome and porch of the mosque were tiled.

The construction and completion of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd has been done during a century and in different historical periods, the most important of which are the patriarchal monarchy, Safavids, Timurid rule, Al-Muzaffar and Qajar rule. In fact, every part of this monument has been built and restored over time by several founders.

The construction and completion of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd has been done during a century and in different historical periods, the most important of which are the patriarchal monarchy, Safavids, Timurid rule, Al-Muzaffar and Qajar rule. In fact, every part of this monument has been built and restored over time by several founders.

Shia Islam symbols

The maps used in the decorations of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd are symbols that are somehow related to the beliefs of the Shiite religion; These paintings include sun and star motifs, chandelier motifs, altar-like motifs, chain plasters, and so on. The sun and the star make up the majority of the designs used in the mosque.

Star motifs in the interior of the mosque dome

Some of these geometric and Islamic motifs, such as the 72 full-headed suns at the entrance, the suns of the south porch and altar-like designs on the decorative columns of the dome entrance, are some of the landmark motifs used in the Jameh Mosque of Yazd, which is in another building. From this era and in this beauty and grandeur cannot be found.

These motifs in the Jameh Mosque show a kind of Shiite thought of its builders and founders, considering the establishment of a central Sunni government at the time of construction.

Entrance of Jameh Mosque of Yazd

Jameh mosque of Yazd is one of the most beautiful mosques of the Timurid period, which is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of the ninth century AH in terms of tiling, high porch, minarets and inscriptions. The height of the minarets is 52 meters and although the main building of the mosque is attributed to before the Timurid period, but the current building according to existing inscriptions shows that it was built in the Timurid period.

 The inscriptions of the mosque are one in brick Kufic script and the other in white thirds script on azure tiles. In the text of Sardar inscription, the name of Shahrokh Teymouri and Sultan Jahanshah and the date 861 AH is mentioned.

This mosque is important for several reasons: First, it is the oldest example of architecture that has been imitated in the religious architecture of Yazd region during the ninth century AH; The design consists of a domed mausoleum and a long, elongated rectangular nave. The rectangular plan of the mosque is derived from the architectural pattern of the Kaaba. It has a completely sacred and sublime building in Islam and is used as a cosmic symbol in Muslim architectural patterns.

According to Master Pirnia, this dome has two shells, and the inner covering of the dome, which is formed in accordance with the spatial and executive requirements of the mosque’s interior architecture, creates conditions that are different from the outer covering, which is formed in accordance with the external requirements.

Another important feature of the building is the widespread use of national arches in the naves, which is accompanied by mosaic tiles. Another noteworthy point in the building of Jameh Mosque of Yazd is the issue of creating indirect lighting by reflecting light from the white plaster of the dome and walls. 

Also, the decorations inside and outside the dome, the exterior-interior view of the main porch and its beautiful altar, which is one of the important parts of the mosque, are extremely valuable and interesting. How the mosque was formed: These three finally became a single large mosque during the Qajar period.

 

last word

Jameh Mosque of Yazd is a meeting place for lovers to spend time with their constant companion. God welcomes you in his house to sit at the feet of your pain and heart and talk about love. For this peaceful rendezvous, in different cities and villages of Iran, prominent artists and architects gather to create a place full of love and beauty.

The combination of geometric motifs with Islamic motifs in the tiling decorations of the mosque is such that at first glance, it is not easy to distinguish between them.

Invite yourself to see the challenge of the blue color of the mosque among the blue color of the sky.

Naghsh-e jahan square in isfahan | passage on Iran history tour

Naghsh-e Jahan Square

The most special place in the world, Naghsh-e Jahan Square

Naghsh-e Jahan Square: Everyone has heard the description of Isfahan’s historical monuments. Historic places whose splendor attracts the attention of every tourist. The most special square in the world, Naghsh-e Jahan square is one of the most famous of these places. Most of Isfahan’s historical monuments date back to the Safavid era. An era that reflects the economic prosperity of that era. After many years and many unfortunate events that have happened to these places, it still attracts the attention of tourists. Naghsh-e Jahan square is among the places that every person should visit at least once. So, join us to get more acquainted with the collection of the role of the world of buildings around it.

Naghsh-e Jahan Square

Before Safavid times, there was a beautiful garden called “Naghsh-e Jahan square” in Isfahan. The name of this garden is taken from a city that is called Nakhchivan today.

During the Safavid period, after the transfer of the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, a lot of economic prosperity was created. Therefore, many buildings were ordered to be built.

From the field that was called “New Square” at this time.

 The old mansion in Naghsh-e Jahan Garden was demolished at the same time as the square was built. Its materials were used in the construction of the square. For this reason, the new square was called Naghsh-e Jahan Square.

By the order of Shah Abbas Safavid, the original building of this square was built on the banks of the Zayandehrood River in 1011 AH. Over time, by 1025, its construction and other buildings around the world were completed.

This square was built by famous architects such as Sheikh Baha’i, Master Ali Akbar and Mohammad Reza Isfahani.

The length of Naghsh-e Jahan Square is more than 500 meters and its width is 160 meters. Around the square, 200 rooms are located on two floors.

At the same time, by order of Henry IV in 1612, the Doge Square in Paris was built with a square design, each side of which was not more than 140 square meters.

  This square is wider than Moscow Red Square, which was one of the most famous squares in the world.

  Even the role of the world has a superior historical perspective compared to Concorde Square in Paris. The role of the world square is the second largest square in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

There are four amazing monuments in different parts of the square. During different periods, arches were built around the square to protect the building. But over time, the arches have become modern cells.

 Also, this square is very similar to Shah Qazvin Square, Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd and Saheb Abad Square in Qazvin.

Simultaneously with the reign of the last Safavid king (Sultan Hussein), Naghsh-e Jahan square lost its glory and grandeur.

All the atmospheres and trees around the square dried up, and this destroyed the prosperity of the square. The process of destruction intensified during the Ashraf Afghan invasion of Isfahan.

Due to the change of capital from Isfahan, neglect of places and their destruction continued until the Qajar period.

Many parts of the mansion were destroyed due to the negligence of the Qajar kings.

During the reign of the first Pahlavi, Reza Khan began to rebuild historic buildings and cells around Naghsh-e Jahan square, and economic prosperity returned to the Naghsh-e Jahan market.

According to the travelogue, Naghsh-e Jahan Square has been the site of countless ceremonies and rituals. These include polo, fireworks, military parades and patriotic celebrations.

Naghsh-e Jahan Square has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Aali Qapo Palace

By order of Shah Abbas I, this building was built after the transfer of the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, between 973 and 977 AD. In the Safavid period, the Aali Qapo mansion in Isfahan was known as the “Dolat khane Palace ” and the “Dolat khane Mobarake Naghsh-e Jahan square”.

This palace was built and completed in 5phase between 70 and 100 years.

In the first phase of construction, this palace was only the entrance to other royal palaces.

 In the second phase, due to the expansion of the capital and the increase in population, the need to expand the building was felt. For this reason, the third, fourth and half floors of the fifth floor were added.

In the third phase, the palace building was completed with the addition of the top floor (known as the music hall).

 In the fourth phase, a porch was added to Naghsh-e Jahan Square to increase the length of the palace.

And in the fifth phase, 18 columns were added to the porch. The construction of royal stairs and the construction and completion of the building’s water supply system to transfer water to the floors, especially the copper pool of the porch, were other constructions of this phase.

Aali Qapu Palace has amazing architecture. You will see a different number of floors if you look at it from any side. The palace has five floors from the back view, three floors from the side and two floors from the side of Naghsh-e Jahan square.

From the top of Aali Qapu mansion, all the views of Isfahan can be seen. Aali Qapu height is 48 Meters.

Miniatures and spectacular stucco of Aali Qapu Palace were made by Reza Abbasi, a famous artist of the Safavid period. Each floor and each hall in Aali Qapu Palace have its own design.

This unique architecture and palace inscriptions will attract the attention of any viewer.

Audio Hall (Aali Qapu)

  The audio hall is one of the sixth floors halls. The audio hall is completely plastered. This hall has an area of 63 square meters and has the shape of Chalipa (Persian cross). One of the features of this hall is the presence of arches that have created an acoustic environment. This feature allows full sounds to reach the entire hall.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is one of the historical mosques with masterpiece architecture of the Safavid era of Isfahan. This mosque was built between 1602 and 1619 AD by order of Shah Abbas I. The tiles of this mosque have been done by Professor Mohammad Reza Isfahani.

The main reason for building the mosque is to honor one of the religious figures named Sheikh Lotfollah Misi. He is one of the prominent scholars of the Safavid era.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque was built on the ruins of a mosque that used to be in this place.

Only Shah Abbas and the royal family were allowed to enter the mosque. The general public could not enter the mosque and worship.

The architectural style of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is similar to other Isfahani structures. But this mosque has some major differences from other mosques built across the country. Lack of minaret and Shabestan is one of the differences of this mosque. On the other hand, the entrance of the mosque has several steps.

One of the main reasons why this mosque lacks Shabestan and entrance courtyard is to create a symmetry with Naghsh-e Jahan Square and to place the Aali qapu mansion in front of the mosque.

For this reason, a courtyard facing the qibla in front of the mosque has not been built.

Another difference of this mosque is that it does not face the qibla. As a result, the architects were forced to rotate 45 degrees in order to position the mosque in the direction of the qibla.

But the design and construction of the mosque has been done with such elegance that no angle or even skew in the building and exterior is known.

The dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is lower than the dome of other mosques.

The dome of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is built on 8 gabled arches. At the top of the dome, 16 lattice windows are installed that allow daylight into the courtyard. The windows are made at a distance of 170 cm from each other. In addition to passing light, they are also responsible for air conditioning.

Islamic motifs on the windows caused the light to enter the mosque with astonishing refraction.

The outer part of the dome has colorful tiles and delicate designs that come in different colors at different times of the day and according to the angle of the sun.

For example, the dome is pink in the light of dawn, pink, cream in the direct light of noon, and brick in the setting sun.

The exterior of the dome is decorated with mosaic tiles in pea background color. At the bottom of the dome, there are inscriptions in the third line with azure background color.

The seven-colored tiles of the mosque, in which the predominant color is blue and green, have turned the interior of the mosque and the Shabestan into a special space.

The Imam Mosque

Isfahan Imam Mosque is one of the most important buildings of the Safavid era. This mosque was formerly known as the Shah Mosque, the New Soltani Mosque and the Abbasid Mosque.

Imam Mosque is the most important mosque in the Safavid period in terms of the grandeur of the building and the abundance of decorations in the city of Isfahan.

The construction of the mosque began by the order of Shah Abbas I in 1020 AH to beautify the square.

This mosque represents a unique example of Iranian tile and carving art in the 11th century. Recorded dates in the mosque show that the decoration of the mosque was completed during the reign of Shah Abbas I.

The inscription on the entrance of the mosque in the Sols writing shows that Shah Abbas built this mosque from his property. He has given the reward of this work to his grandfather Shah Tahmasb.

Isfahan Imam Mosque is built with 18 million pieces of bricks and 474 thousand tiles. Marble can also be seen in abundance in mosques;

The main Shah Mosque is covered with silver and gold. On this door, poems in Nasta’liq script can be seen.

Large pieces of monolithic marble and precious Sangab have been used in the mosque. This is one of the valuable features of Imam Mosque.

The new Haftrang method has been used in the tiles of the mosque.

Isfahan Imam Mosque has seven Sangab. These Sangabs are:

Entrance Sangab made of Jasper

West Chehelsotun Sangab made of Jasper

Eastern Chehelsotun Sangab made of lime

Western dome Sangab made of marble

Eastern dome Sangab made of marble

Qaisaria Gate

The historical monument of Qaisaria Gate is located in the north of Naghsh-e Jahan Square and in front of Imam Mosque. This building was built by Master Ali Akbar Isfahani during the reign of Shah Abbas I.

 The reason for choosing this name is that the entrance of this market was built like one of the buildings of Caesarea in Asia Minor (Turkey). This door is decorated with porcelain bricks and beautiful paintings.

Qaisaria Gate was the most important entrance gate of Isfahan.

Today, there is not much left of the beautiful paintings on the porch. But the gate of Caesarea is reminiscent of the glory of Isfahan in the Safavid era.

 Most tourists have spoken in their travelogues about the glory of this Caesarea gate.

This article introduced you to a small part of the glory of Naghsh-e Jahan square. Naghsh-e Jahan square is one of the first places to visit on a trip to Isfahan. Seeing this place at night, due to the beautiful lighting, is particularly attractive. But you should not miss seeing this amazing place during the day. The best time to see the charms of this mosque is in the morning. Sunlight gives a special effect to these mosques.

We hope that after getting acquainted with the Isfahan’s historical monuments specially Naghsh-e Jahan square, you will experience a good trip to this city with Oak Travel agency and visit more historical and cultural attractions in Iransquare

Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque

Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque

The glory of Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque 

Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque is one of the oldest religious buildings in Iran. The current building of the mosque belongs to the Seljuk period. Repairs have been made to this mosque, which belongs to the Safavid period. But after the archeological excavations that were done on this building, belongings from the period of Albuyeh and the third century AH were discovered among them.

The construction of Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque dates in Isfahan attractions and history back to the first centuries AH and the time of the Abbasids. The most important development of the mosque took place during the Al-Buwayh and Safavid periods. Therefore, Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque represents Byzantine and classical art in the form of a traditional and Islamic building.

It is acknowledged that Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque was originally a fire temple. When the Arabs came to Iran, this fire temple became a mosque.

Architecture

The architecture of Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque is a combination of different architectural styles of Iran and neighboring countries. The original design of the mosque had a Shabestan in the style of an Arab or Khorasani Mosque. In the fifth century AH, it became a four-aisled mosque.

Dome

Another feature of the mosque is the load-bearing skeleton of the dome, which is called Tarkine dome.  Tarkine dome has made it possible to create hundreds of domes; This method was performed for the first time in Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque.

Atiq Jameh Mosque can be considered as one of the mosques that includes several altars.

There is a small Shabestan in the north of the mosque Iwan. The altar of this Shabestan is the most beautiful molding of the mosque. This altar displays Iranian art in the best way.

Safavi Shabestan

One of the most beautiful Shabestans of the Old Mosque of Isfahan is the Safavi Shabestan. Excavations revealed that Shabestan was built during the Timurid period.

Another beauty of this Shabestan is its altar. This altar is made of marble. Beautiful poems are also written on the altar.

Iwan

Darvish Iwan

Darvish Iwan was built in the sixth century. This Iwan has a stucco inscription belonging to the period of King Solomon Safavid. One of the most beautiful parts of the mosque is forty eastern columns of Darvish Iwan, which has numerous arches with unique brick motifs.

Saheb Iwan

 Saheb Iwan is another part of the Atiq Mosque in Isfahan, which was built during the Seljuk period. The Iwan was decorated during the Safavid eras. The Iwan contains inscriptions from the reigns of various Safavid kings.

 Omar Iwan

The date 768 AH is engraved on the historical inscription of Omar Iwan. It is dated to the reign of Sultan Mahmud Al-Muzaffar. The brick columns of this Iwan with simple decorations and religious expressions written with decorative and historical lines on the ceiling have created a special beauty.

 Ostad Iwan

Ostad Iwan is built in the west of the mosque. The construction of this Iwan dates back to the Seljuk period, but special decorations were applied on it during the Safavid period. Beautiful tiles and inscriptions in the Sols line and Nasta’liq have given a beautiful effect to this Iwan. These inscriptions and lines date back to the reign of Shah Sultan Hussein in 1112 AH.

Shagerd Iwan

Shagerd Iwan, like the other Iwans of the mosque, was built during the Seljuk period. Simultaneously with the rule of the Ilkhans and Safavids (eighth and eleventh centuries AH), a decoration was added to this Iwan. the Iwan has amazing arched brick that show the art of Iranian-Islamic architecture well. In this Iwan, there is a special and unique marble with inscriptions around it.

Stone-trough

There are four stone-troughs (Sangab) in this mosque.

stone-trough (Sangab) Darvish Iwan: This stone-trough (Sangab) is made of Persian stone. On the body of this stone-trough (Sangab) is a dome on which is written in Persian and Arabic languages in Sols line. Half of the stone-trough (Sangab) has been destroyed by a fracture.

stone-trough (Sangab) Saheb Iwan: This stone-trough (Sangab) is simple. This stone-trough (Sangab) is located in the middle of a pool of rectangular stone and five gorges have been designed on its edge. The outer surface of the stone-trough (Sangab) can be seen at the top, including the inscription in the Sols line and the small congressional design, and at the lower part of the stone-trough (Sangab), the large congressional design.

Sundial

  There is a sundial on the north Iwan of the mosque, which was used to determine the time of the call to prayer.

Library

The large library of Nizam al-Molk is also located in Atiq Jameh Mosque. The library was damaged during the war bombardment; But in the renovations, the library was restored to its original style.

The magnificent Isfahan Atiq Jameh Mosque is a combination of several beautiful architectures from different historical periods. This combination makes the architecture of the mosque unique.

Atiq Jameh Mosque of Isfahan is located in the old part of the city and at the end of the Grand Bazaar and this monuments there is in Iran UNESCO Heritage world list.

Be sure to visit this magnificent mosque during your visit to Isfahan.

The best time to visit this beautiful mosque, to enjoy its beautiful architecture, is in the morning.

Oak travel agency arrange every services in Iran for you  so Join us to experience the best trip of your life.

 

Iran highlighted tour | Vank Cathedral

Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

Vank cathedral is the most beautiful church in Isfahan

Vank Cathedral: Savior Cathedral or Church of Saintly Sisters, is known as Vank Church. This church is also known as “Amenaperkich” in the world. This church is an Armenian church located in the Jolfa street in the center of Isfahan. The name “Vanak” is derived from the Armenian word “monastery”. Due to its outstanding interior, Vank Cathedral is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Isfahan.

Vank Cathedral was built during the rule of Shah Abbas. Vank Church dates back to 1606 AD.

Vank Cathedral is built on an area of 8700 square meters. In the architecture of most churches, stone was used to build the building, but in Vank Church, brick was used instead of stone facade. Among the brick facade, tiles with the image of winged angels can be seen. In the main entrance, there is a large wooden door that has given a special glory to the church.

There is a three-story tower at the entrance to Vank Church. The church bell is located in this tower. On the second floor, there is a large clock tower that weighs 300 kg. This watch was donated by Mardiros Gork Hordanian in 1931. The clocks of the tower sound at the same time as the ringing of the bells.

The bell tower, also known today as the Clock Tower, was built 38 years after the main church building. Below the bell tower are two tombs belonging to an Armenian soldier and a bishop.

To the right of the bell tower is a blue inscription covered with cross stones.

These stones, which are called Khach Klim in Armenian, have been brought to Vank Church from other Jolfa churches.

Vank Cathedral has two domes. They built a small dome above the hall where the people gathered and a large dome above the church altar.

The architectural style of the Great Dome is quite similar to the architecture of the dome of mosques. This is while the dome of the churches is basically conical. According to the year of construction of this church (Safavid period), the architectural style of the dome is modeled on the architecture of mosques at that time.

The roof and walls of the church are covered with beautiful paintings. These paintings attract the attention of every visitor.

The paintings on the dome of Vank Church are some of its interesting attractions. Interesting paintings of the dome include the following: Images of the creation of Adam and Eve, the story of Adam eating the forbidden fruit, and the story of Abel and Cain

The paintings of the main building are one of the most beautiful architectural parts of this church. The interior walls of the church hall are plastered. These walls are covered with magnificent paintings.

The architecture of the Vank cathedral is known and prominent in the world for its gilding and painting.

Vank church paintings are generally divided into two categories:

Paintings on canvas and cloth that have been used in the altar and other places

Painted murals and pieces of stone

One of the best-known paintings of Vank church depicts seven floors of Sky and heaven and hell. This is one of the most interesting works painted in this church.

Among the most interesting parts of Vank church are the statues installed on the church grounds. These statues represent Armenian celebrities who attract the attention of every visitor.

Sections of Vank church:

Vank church has been completed over time. Many parts have been added to the church over the years. The church has sections such as the museum, library, Bell House, clock tower and Printing press.

museum

Many tourists visit the Vank church museum every year. This museum is of great importance in Iran and the world.

The most famous work in this museum belongs to an 18-year-old girl. On this hairpin, a sentence of the Torah is written with diamonds. Wahram hakoupian is an Armenian artist who created this art work in 1974. In 1975, the hair was donated to the Vanek Museum.

library

The church library is located next to the museum. Deir Amna perkic library is one of the most important cultural sites for Armenians in Isfahan. Some of the historical documents and books stored in this library date back more than 400 years. These documents and books are kept in the archive section and there is no access to these documents for the public.

printing press

Iran’s first printing press was established in Vank church. The first printed book in Iran was also published in this church. But there was a lot of opposition to the activity of the Vank church printing press. These objections eventually led to the burning and destruction of the printing press. Currently, the Vank church printing machine and samples of printed books are kept in the Vank Museum.

This church is one of the places in Isfahan that no tourist should miss. Visiting the museum, printing house and library are also places that you will enjoy visiting. Visiting this church and seeing its beautiful paintings attracts the attention of visitors.

Now book your tour with us to Visit this tip top