Iran

Masjed-e Jâme'

WHS Score 3.22
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2.5

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Masjed-e Jâme' of Isfahan is the prototype of a distinctive Islamic architectural style.

The mosque was the first to be built in the four-iwan architectural style (known from Sassanid palaces), placing four gates face to face. Its Nezam al-Molk Dome was the first double-shell ribbed dome. Developed from the 9th century onwards, it is the oldest Friday mosque in Iran and displays architectural styles of different periods.

Community Perspective: It’s an enormous complex with old brick halls (it’s not as flashy and shiny as some other famous mosques in Iran), but it also has beautiful fine mosaics and two great domes opposite each other. Try to be there before the tour groups arrive for a more intimate experience.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Masjed-e Jâme' of Isfahan (ID: 1397)
Country
Iran
Status
Inscribed 2012 Site history
History of Masjed-e Jâme'
2012: Advisory Body overruled
ICOMOS advice was deferral
2012: Revision
Reduced from former TWHS Historic-Natural Axis of Isfahan City (2007)
2012: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Cultural
Criteria
  • ii
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Religious structure: Islamic
Travel Information
Red Zone Travel Advisory
Red Zone Travel Advisory
Iran fully off-limits
Isfahan Hotspot
Isfahan Hotspot
In Isfahan city center
Recent Connections
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Connections of Masjed-e Jâme'
Trivia
History
  • Silk Roads
    (Near) Classic Land Route; in ICOMOS thematic study but no details on role or function.
  • Abbasid Caliphate
    initiated under the reign of al-Mo'tasem the Abbasid (AB ev)
  • Seljuk Empire
    a continuous sequence of Islamic architectural styles, the most prominent of which date from the Seljuq period (AB ev)
Architecture
Damaged
World Heritage Process
Religion and Belief
  • Notable mosques
    the oldest Friday (congregational) mosque in Iran (AB ev)
Timeline
  • Built in the 9th century
    Different theories exist - the Abbasid mosque dates from 841 (built on top of earlier structures)
WHS Hotspots
Visiting conditions
News

No news.

Recent Visitors
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Community Reviews

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First published: 08/01/17.

Juha Sjoeblom

Masjed-E Jâme'

Masjed-e Jâme' (Inscribed)

Masjed-e Jâme' by Juha Sjoeblom

Site visited January 2016. The great city of Isfahan is full of marvellous sights. Imam Square and the famous bridges are usually in the center of attention. Congregational mosque Masjed-e Jāmé is often overlooked maybe because of its remote location. This architectural masterpiece was the latest addition to Isfahan’s World Heritage Sites.

One of the great things about this site is its location surrounded by the vast Grand Bazaar of Isfahan. It is 1,5 kilometres walk from Imam Square and finding your way in the labyrinthine alleys of bazaar to the mosque is part of the fun. Although the size of the mosque is enormous you can hardly notice it when you walk next to it in the bazaar. You just pop in from a modest gate and suddenly you are in the center of this historical complex.

Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan is one of the oldest and biggest mosques in Iran. It has been constantly constructed, reconstructed and renovated so there are many historical layers. It is the first mosque that was built in four-iwan courtyard style and it became prototype of this architectural style in the Islamic world. There are two great domes opposite each other. Behind the large stalactites of south iwan is the robust brick dome of Nezam Al-Molk which is one of the biggest domes of its time. Behind the north iwan is Taj Al-Molk Dome which is a masterpiece of Persian architecture. Its geometrically perfect and balanced structure is very impressive. The four iwans …

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First published: 10/04/16.

Alexander Parsons

Masjed-E Jâme'

Masjed-e Jâme' (Inscribed)

Masjed-e Jâme' by Alexander Parsons

On first viewing as I approached, the mosque was honestly underwhelming. I had read about the wondrous nature of its dome, and so was naively expecting a dazzling tiled beauty. Instead, there was a dome of faded brick, rising above a construction site plaza. I was also looking at the wrong dome; the ‘perfect’ one is considerably smaller than the other, and thus less visible from afar.

Once entering the mosque proper, however, this disappointment ebbed away. The interior of the two domes was both striking architecturally and aesthetically, high above the ground and decorated extensively. As someone uneducated in the field of architecture, I was not able to fully appreciate the nuance of the domes’ dimensions, and how they differed from the many other domes I have seen, but it was still a satisfying experience.

The view of the four famed iwans from the central area was unfortunately marred by scaffolding covering one of them, but the view of workers removing and replacing tiles at the very top was an interesting consolation prize. The lack of any harness at that height made the experience slightly nerve-wracking. The gaze of the ayatollahs emerging from beneath the network of poles was also a somewhat amusing image. I also really enjoyed the sad little UNESCO plastic plaque sitting in the middle of the courtyard, atop a dry fountain pool area.

Some advice, however; I arrived at opening time (9am), and had the mosque to myself for about 10 minutes, at which point …

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First published: 04/01/13.

Joyce Van Soest

Masjed-E Jâme'

Masjed-e Jâme' (Inscribed)

Masjed-e Jâme' by marcel staron

The Jameh Mosque is the third World Heritage Site in the beautiful city of Esfahan (Meidan Emam en Sotun Palace (part of the The Persian Garden World Heritage Site) are the other ones).

The mosque is one of the oldest in Iran, with architecture from the last 12 ages. Walking through the enormous complex you can see a lot of different styles. You can find old brick halls but also beautiful fine mosaics. This is definitely a mosque where you can explore for a long time.

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