Blue Mosque

Turquoise Of  Islam

One of the outstanding remains of Qara Quyounlu period is the religious and historical monument of Blue mosque built by the order of Jahan shah.

According to the inscription of the facade the finishing of the construction, with the name of Mozafarii-e Building, has been done in 1465 A.D.Also in the inscription, the name of Nematollah Ibn Mohammad Elbavvab as calligrapher and probably designer of patterns of the mosque has been mentioned. The main part of the monument as mosque and mausoleum had a wide court bearing madrese (religious school), bath, Khanqah library, etc. Unfortunately none has been remained. The specific architecture of the mosque, it’s complex of mosaic tiles, tile and brick, complicated patterns covering inside and outside make it famous. Therefore because of these characteristics it is called Turquoise of Islam. The name of Jahan shah has been inscribed on the top of the entrance.

The mosque had two small and big shabestans (sanctuary), two narrow and high minarets. Now just the base of these minarets remained. Arabesques, Arabic scripts (Thulth and different kinds of Kufic), and geometrical patterns were the decoration of big shabestan. The small one (as royal mausoleum) decorated with hexagon azure blue tiles and gilded painting on ceiling. At the end of shabestan in the cellar, there were Jahan shah and his families tombs.

The earthquake of the 1779 killed so many people and destroyed most parts of the city that Blue Mosque was among them. After the earthquake, The mosque has been left ruined about 180 years, later on the restoration of most parts has been done till 1964. The domes of shabestans have been reconstructed by Reza Memaran, master builder, from 1973 until 1975. In the recent years the last restoration of the building, performing of it’s surrounding, and renovation of the interior patterns were completed.