The Jameh Mosque of Isfahan

The Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, also known as Masjid-e Jameh Sultan and Masjid-e Shah, is one of the most important historical mosques in Isfahan and one of the mosques of Naghsh-e Jahan Square. It was built during the Safavid era and is considered one of the significant architectural landmarks of Islamic Iran. This structure is a masterpiece of 11th-century architecture, tilework, and woodworking. The mosque was registered as one of Iran’s national treasures on January 4, 1932, and along with Naghsh-e Jahan Square, it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Construction of this mosque, located on the southern side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square, began in 1639 under the orders of Shah Abbas I, during the twenty-fourth year of his reign, and its decorations and additions were completed during the reign of his successors. Shah Abbas built the mosque in memory of his departed father, Shah Tahmasp. The chief architect of this building was Master Ali Akbar Isfahani, and the construction supervisor was Mahbub Allah Beyg. Skilled calligraphers such as Ali Reza Abbasi, Abdul Baqi Tabrizi, Mohammad Reza Emami, and Mohammad Saleh Emami have inscribed epigraphs on its walls. It is famous that during the construction of this building, several marble mines were discovered around Isfahan, which were used as a source to provide the necessary materials for the construction of this mosque.