Goharshad Mosque, Religious complex in Mashhad, Iran
Goharshad Mosque is a religious building within the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad's main religious complex in northeast Iran. It has a large courtyard and multiple prayer halls covered by a blue-tiled dome, with tall minarets rising above the structure.
The mosque was commissioned in 1418 by Queen Goharshad, wife of the Timurid ruler Shahrokh. Architect Qavam al-Din Shirazi led its construction during this important period of Persian architecture.
The mosque displays Persian-Islamic design elements throughout its prayer spaces and courtyards. Walking through the building, you notice intricate tilework and carved calligraphy covering the surfaces, which give the place its visual character.
The complex is accessible through eight different entrances from various directions. Visitors should be prepared for separate spaces dedicated to different groups of worshippers throughout the building.
The main prayer hall houses a massive prayer niche carved from a single marble block with no visible joints. The wooden Sahib al-Zaman pulpit in the same hall was assembled entirely without metal fasteners of any kind.
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