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Jame Mosque of Yazd

Entry portal of the Jame Mosque of Yazd is located to the eastern side of the mosque. Twin minarets and the entry portal of Jame Yazd is considered one of the highest in Iran.

 

History

A mosque stood at this site in the 12th century (6th Hijri), the current mosque dates from 1324 and it was built during the reign of Ilkhanid ( southwestern sector of the Mongol Empire). Most of the decoration in the building was added under Muzaffarid rule, after they succeeded the Ilkhanids. Historians agree that this site was bought by Rokn al-Din (buried in Yazd) and a mosque was built here. 

Entry portal of Jame Mosque of Yazd
Twin minarets of the mosque
A sign beside the entry door points to the history of this beautiful building

Entry Portal

Two towering minarets stand at the entry portico of the Jame Yazd. The combination of the colours and the patterns make this entry door to be admired among all the mosques in Iran. Actual door of the mosque has beautiful designs it appears to be quite old. An open arch in the middle of the entry portal – this arch sits halfway between the ground and the tips of the minarets.

A chain was lowered at the entry door of the mosque because a funeral prayer was being held inside the mosque
Eastern door of the mosque
Detailed tile work at the entry portal
When looking upward, these seem to be a fitting adaptation to tall entry portal
Blue is the main colour used to decorate the entry portal of the mosque
Door of the Yazd Mosque
Patterns created at the door to enhance it's beauty

Entry Portal

The vault of the soaring portal iwan is surmounted by a muqarnas units in blue, white, and ochre, ascending to a smooth semi-dome medallion decorated in concentric rings of floral arabesque. The variety of decorative techniques and forms of colored glazed tile mosaic work and (unglazed) carved terracotta. 

An open arch in the middle of the entry portal
Decorations at the entry door
Blue Persian tiles are used at the exterior of the mosque
Rings of rings of floral arabesque
The Muzaffarid are responsible for most of the decorations
When looking closely at this figure in the middle, it gives 3d effects
This marble has arabic inscriptions, it is located inside the entry portal of the mosque
Looking back at the entry door, from inside the mosque - from here an anteroom connects to the southern prayer hall
Courtyard of the mosque seen through the arch of the entry portal
Minarets of the Jame Yazd, seen from inside

Courtyard & Dome

The rectangular courtyard of the mosque measures around 18m x 46m and it is built from all sides. There are galleries inside the iwan where dome is, in order to allow light and air into the building. Dome chamber of the mosque measures around 12m x 12m. In 1375, the decoration of the dome was finished and a mehrab was installed in the domed chamber. The mehrab of the mosque is decorated with the brightly coloured blue tiles. The area above the mehrab is framed by a calligraphic inscription band in white thuluth script on a blue background. 

Towering minarets of the Jame Yazd can be seen to the eastern side and main prayer hall is situated to the south
Courtyard of the Jame Yazd Mosque
Dome of the mosque is inside the southern iwan
Look at the interior of the dome
Two ladies praying inside the mosque
Upper section of the mehrab
A small door beside the mehrab which provides access to the upper area of the mosque
Details of the area above the mehrab
Walls of the southern iwan has small holes for air to circulate in the building
Geometrical patterns are created to add precision and dimension to this mosque

Walls of the southern iwan has small holes for air to circulate in the building and this part of the wall is also decorated with the blue tiles. Qanat system was built to bring water into Yazd city from Fahraj village. Water would leave this mosque for Zarch, this qanat was 90km in length (probably, one of the longest in Iran). 

 

Panoramic view of the Jame Yazd
A side view of the internal walls of the mosque
The current minarets of the mosque date from the Safavid era
Floral motif are part of the Islamic decorations in the whole Muslim World and this mosque fits into this nicely
Visitors in front of the southern iwan
A library/shop is also added to the mosque
It offered many books on religion, hadith and many other similar subjects
This is the door of the second entrance of the mosque
Solid wood and long nails were used to put this large door together
A final look at this beautiful mosque and it's dome