Isfahan Rugs: Notes on Imam Square in Esfahan

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This is a professional picture copied from an Iranian desk calendar called "The Fabulous Land of Iran 2000".  Photo by Hamid Reza Hosainzadeh.

The photo shows a panorama of one side of Imam Square (Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan) in Esfahan.  In the center of the photo is Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque.  This mosque has no minarets as it was a private mosque used by the Safavid royal family members, presumably they did not need to be called to prayer.  It is also known as the "Lady's or Women's Mosque" as the ladies of the court could worship there in private.  The tile work in this mosque is exquisite.  In order to have the marab of the mosque facing Mecca and the Mosque still positioned as one of the "anchors" of the square, there is an angled corridor into the mosque from the square.  Although it has not been found, rumor has it that there was a private underground tunnel to the mosque from the A'li Qapu Palace for the royal family.

At the right end of the picture would be the Imam Mosque and on the left end would be the Qaisarrieh Bazaar (the covered bazaar, including the carpet bazaar). The picture appears to have been taken from the balcony of the A'li Qapu Palace.  The balcony of the A'li Qapu is where the Safavid kings would sit to watch the polo tournaments in the Maidan.  Where the fountain is now, in the center of the picture, was once the polo field.  Two of the goal posts are still in existence to the right of the picture, just in front of Imam Mosque. Thought this might help with orientation to the Imam Square.  It was adapted from a scan from "Isfahan" by Gholam-Hosein Arab Farhangsara (Yassavoli) Publishers.

Source of this page is a friend from Canada. Our photographer and contributor chooses for her own reasons to remain anonymous.

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Thanks and best wishes,

J. Barry O'Connell Jr.

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