In my previous post, I wrote about the transformation of Masjed-e Jāme’ in Isfahan, where a certain period of it’s development cooked brick material technology was introduced and since, it was then became the decoration to the construction and the forming of the domes of the
The laying out of the cooked brick up to form the arches as well as the domes was so unique that each crafts man/architect has his own way of stacked up the bricks together to form the columns arches and later on interlink the bricks out of four columns to form a circle and then formed a dome. As a result, as each dome generated and differently, they became architectural feature by themselves.
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Today, public main entrance to Masjed-e Jāme’ in Isfahan is from the South East entrance; and not from the main east iwan entrance, we were met by a series of cloisters which are punctuated by open and closed vaults giving strong contrasts between light and dark and imposing a need for spatial and ocular re-adjustment. These cloistered space changes with its diversity and intricacy feeling as we moved to other spaces. Everywhere, there is a different vista, until we end up in the main prayer hall where we find a more elaborate lines of intricate pillars.
Between open and closed chasement, which creates a different ambiance to the cloisters
Brick color cloistered dome
Another corridor with different brick settings
For architects who are looking for traditional adornment, these domes are consider as a museum of decorative design, the Kufic calligraphy around the dome’s base dated back in 1080 and covers the name of Taj al Molk.
Inside one of the hall of Jame Mosque, showing different style of dome
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The main dome is 18m high and covered by a 9m diameter space dome, with magnificent and intricate brick setting:
The main hall of the cloister of domes all in bricks, no re-enforcement at all and still standing till to date, surviving massive earthquake and other disasters.
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There are many mosques in Isfahan, but the most important congregational mosque in Isfahan are this Masjed-e jāmeʿ of Isfahan and Masjed-e Jadid-e ʿAbbāsi, better known as Masjed-e Šāh the Royal Mosque which as I explain in the previous post was located at the other end of the town. I will explain about this mosque in a couple of posts from now.
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Other post on Masjed-e Jāme’ of Isfahan:
