Imam Mosque - UNESCO World Heritage Site - also known as Shah Mosque and Masjed-e Shah - located in Imam Square - also known as Naghsh-i Jahan Square or Maidan - in Isfahan - The Pearl of Islam - Iran.
This mosque is often confused with Jameh Mosque in Iran due to its similar architecture.
The mosque is a magnificent example of the extravagant architecture that constituted the glory of Isfahan at the time. It was built by the Safavids, a native dynasty, reunited Iran in the early 16th century and reached the highest point in the reign of Shah Abbas I the Great (1587-1629). He moved the capital to Isfahan (ancient Aspadana) (210 miles (340 km) south of Tehran) and in a exceptional illustration of Iranian town planning, reorganized the whole city in a series of interlinked squares according to the grandest plans conceivable. This was not the first time that the Safavids dynasty had moved their capital, they started moving since their original capital (Tabriz) in 1555, till they established as a world power in Isfahan in late 1590's.
The Maidan itself host Ali Qapu Palace (Fourth Building, located in the west side of the Maidan, built in 1590), Lutfallah Mosque (Built after the completion of the Maidan between 1603 & 1619), Imam Mosque (Built between 1611 & 1630), and the bazaar that connected the old city with the new Maidan.
In order to align the mosque with Mecca while maintaining the integrity of the square, the mosque is set at an angle of about 45 degrees to the gateway, the plan was similar to the earlier Mosque of Lutfallah on the east side of the square. The building largely follows Seljuk tradition, conforming to the four-iwan plan, each leading to a domed hall and flanked by double-storey arcades with pointed niches of the Seljuk type. The largest iwan is on the Qibla side and has in fact a massive panel and dome itself set on a large drum. Beyond the iwans east and west of the courtyard are madrasa (religious colleges). Minarets are paired at both the entry portal and the south iwan. The southern dome, a bulbous form supported on a tall drum, is the largest and the only one decorated.
Imam Mosque Interior Designs are varied and fluid, mostly based on stylized floral archetype. The concentration on decorative facades is a departure from Seljuk tradition which was less determined to conceal structure. The visible exteriors of the mosque are largely covered with ceramic tiles, in color predominantly blue or turquoise, cool colors contrasting agreeably with the warm tones of brickwork and landscape round about.
Mosaic tile work produced by incorporating single color tiles into the design and the so called cuerda seca technique where a range of colors is used on individual, generally square shaped tiles. The principle colors used were blue, yellow, turquoise, pink, aborigine and green. These seven colors gave rise to the name haft rang - which literally means "seven colors". Tile work was used to emphasize certain motif, such as the ascending and descending patterns in the dome of the Lutfallah Mosque, and to emphasize intermediary points in the design either by providing a patterned panel or border, or by incorporating calligraphy. 18 million bricks were used in the building and the revetments contain 472,500 tiles.
Video fun facts;
- Software: Microsoft Movie Maker 2.1 with HD prx plug-ins.
- Picture duration: 10 to 15 seconds.
- Transition duration: 1.25 seconds.
- Video format/aspect ratio: NTSC 16:9.
- Photos pixel resolution: 1280 x 720.
- Video output: HD 1280x720 format.
- Video duration: 6:50.
- Video size: 189 MB.
- Number of photos: 55.
- Music: Intro by Nu & ShiaExcellence. Main Audio re-mastered by Nu.
- Fonts: CoventryGarden, Chancey Cursive, and Bernard MT Condensed.
