Karim Khan of the Zand Dynasty chose Shiraz as his capital and that changed the importance of the city drastically. The construct that were made in this time and by the order of the Just ruler was titled as Vakil since Karim Khan was known as Vakil Ol Ra’aya meaning deputy of the people. These constructs included mosque, bathhouse, bazar, water reservoir and many other similar public structures.

The Vakil mosque, one of the many constructs made in that time is located in the Darb Shazdeh neighborhood, Taleghani Street. It has a square plan about 60×60 m with a magnificent portal entrance with an inscription that mentions the name of Fath Ali Shah and Hossein Mirza of the Qajar Dynasty in a Sols Style.

The mosque has a 4-Iwan plan; the Northern Iwan has a vaulted Arch known as Tagh-e Morvarid (Pearl Arch) and adorned with Haft Rang (7color) Tiles.

The Mosque’s Shabistan or Praying Hall has 48 round twisted pillars that are carrying the domed arches of the place. Mihrab of Vakil Mosque is covered with tiles and the Menbar is made of Marble. There are also some Moaragh (Inlayed) Tile with floral patterns and Arabesque designs and numerous inscriptions that were mostly made in Qajar time.

The Vakil Bazar was later added to the Mosque having a Cross-like pattern and then the Vakil Bathhouse and Water Reservoir was added to the complex. For about 10 years, Vakil mosque was used as the congregational or Jam-e mosque of Shiraz. The magnificent mosque has been registered as a National Heritage in 1932.

The post Vakil Mosque appeared first on Persia Advisor.

Photo by Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Vakil Bath House is part of a complex that were all made in Zand Era and by the order of the Just Ruler, Karim Khan Zand. For all his services and for being a very reliable ruler, he came to be titled “Deputy of the Subjects” or “Vakil Al Ra’aya”. The structures built by him were called Vakil after the great man that ordered their construction. Vakil Bath House was built on a land with an area of about 1350 m², it has different sections such as Sarbineh (the octagonal room after the enterance), Garmkhaneh (the main section where the bathing takes place) and Khazineh (the hot water source). The Sarbineh has a ceiling filled with religious fresco painted over stucco and lime. The paintings include:

• The Ascension of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad The portrait of Imam Ali,
• the first Shiite Imam with his famous sword Zolfaghar.
• The story of Shirin and Farhad story who are two fictional lovers like Romeo & Joliet with the same tragic ending.
• The story of Bijan and Manijeh story another fictional lover.
• The story of Josef and his brothers who cast him away.
• The story of Abraham and Ishmael,
• The story of Sheikh Sanan and the Christian Maiden
• The story of the Old Woman and Sultan Sanjar

The main section of the Bath House has four one-piece stone pillars and arched roof, with small windows on the ceiling used for air conditioning and providing the light. In this Bath House, Khazineh has a warm-water pool, cold-water pool and mild-water pool. This beautiful Bath House is now a tourist attraction of Shiraz located in an area next to Vakil Bazar and Vakil Mosque and in walking distance of Karim Khan Citadel.

The post Vakil Bath House appeared first on Persia Advisor.

Rayen is known to be the second biggest adobe construct of the world after Bam, making Kerman Province the city of castles. Although it is not as old as Bam Castle is, the archeologist believe that it dates back to Sassanid dynasty. The little sister of Bam castle was the ruling center of Mirza Hassan Khan Rayeny during the reign of Nader Shah and later inherited by his son Muhammad Ali Khan in the reign of Zand kings. The castle was placed on the route of Caravans that passed Kerman, and therefore, one of the important trading centers of Iran.

The castle is surrounded with 10-meter-tall fortifications and entering the castle is possible through the only entrance gate of the castle in the eastern side. There is a small rectangular hole above the gate that was used to identify those who asked for permission of entering the city. The spiral stairs of the city that their construction requires much accuracy, even by modern standards, are the sign of advanced state of the place. The most significant thing about the castle, however, is that it had different neighborhoods each belonging to one of the occupations or social classes of the city, such division is unheard of and not witnessed in other remaining castles of Iran.

It is not as old as Bam Citadel, but the archeologist believe that it dates back to Sassanid dynasty. It was the ruling center of Mirza Hassan Khan Rayeny during the reign of Nader Shah and later inherited by his son Muhammad Ali Khan in the reign of Zand kings.

Some of the neighborhoods of this castle are, royal neighborhood, tradesmen neighborhood, farmer neighborhood, and artisan neighborhood. Immediately after the gate, the artisans’ neighborhood began with blacksmith shops that sold knives and tools. It proves the popularity of knives made here among the travelers, it shows that selling handicrafts was a major source of trade in this city.

After Bam’s earthquake, the attentions were transferred to Rayen as another beautiful adobe construct and the renovation, that has started before the earthquake, was completed and this site became a highlight of Kerman and tourism destination.

The post Rayen Castle appeared first on Persia Advisor.

Haj Ibrahim Khan Kalantar is a famous person in the history of Iran, a man that his betrayal led to the capture, torture and death of Lotf Ali Khan Zand, the successor to Zand Throne, and at the same time ensured his position in the Qajar court or better said in the court of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar. A position that improved in later years when he became the most trusted advisor of Fath Ali Shah. No flatteries, however, saved him from the cruel death that awaited him. His increasing power in the court scared the king of his treason and he ordered the exile of Haj Ibrahim Khan. In Exile he was blinded, his tongue was cut and later he was killed. Yet, the power of Kalantar family among the nobles forced Fath Ali Shah to come to peace with them, he assigned Ali Akbar, Haj Ibrahim’s son, as the governor of Shiraz and gave him the title of Qavam Ol Molk.

The place that is known today as Narenjestan Qavam is a traditional Iranian house belonging to the family of Qavam. It was built years after Haj Ali Akbar’s death, and in the reign of Naser Al Din Shah Qajar. Ali Mohammad Khan Qavam Ol Molk began the construction of this house but his son Mohammad Reza Khan Qavam Ol Molk completed it. The house with its beautiful garden was used as a place of governmental meetings. It became known as the Narenjestan Garden for the many Narenj (Bitter Orange) trees that are located there.

The whole place is about 3085 m² which around 940 m² of that was used for the pavilion of the garden. The edifice is a two-story building with a basement the was connected to Zinat Ol Moluk House by an underground tunnel. The house has different sections like bathhouse, Hosseinieh (place of religious rituals), Maktab (School), Harem, Office, and Stable. There was also a small bazaar attached to the house that was destroyed when the Karim Khan Street was built. Around 50 years ago, the last descendant of Qavam Family donated the house to the Shiraz University that was later restored and turned to a tourist attraction, it is now open for visit.

The post Qavam House (Narenjestan Garden) appeared first on Persia Advisor.

Khaje Shams El Din Muhammad, also known as Lesan Ol Gheib or Hafez is a renowned Lyric Poet of Iran that lived in 14^th century in Shiraz. He lost his father even before he was born and was sent to learn different sciences from an early age. He was soon captivated by mysticism; today he is known for his knowledge of mysticism and its reflection in his poetry. Hafez has memorized the whole holly book of Quran that is the reason he came to be called Hafez, which literary means the keeper or preserver.

Hafez Mausoleum, Ceiling Decoration of Tomb – Shiraz, Fars Province

When Zands came to throne, and when Shiraz became the Capital of Iran, Karim khan, the Zand ruler, ordered the construction of a mausoleum for the famous poet. The structure of this mausoleum included an Iwan with four strong pillars each made from a one-piece stone. There were two small rooms on either side of the Iwan, with the Mausoleum being on the northern side, overlooking an outstanding garden. By the order of Zand king, a stone was made to be used as the tombstone of the great poem and some lines of his poetry were carved on it.

Karim khan, the Zand ruler, ordered the construction of a mausoleum for the famous poet. The structure of this mausoleum included an Iwan with four strong pillars each made from a one-piece stone.

The marble tombstone was adorned with two of Hafez Ghazals (Lyrics) using the Calligraphy of Haj Aghasi Beyg Afshar. The only thing that remains from the Zand construct is this tombstone. The importance of the great poet among Iranian has made the mausoleum to be a priority of all rulers that tried to keep it from damage and destruction. An attention that sometimes acted as a disadvantage since many rulers destroyed the mausoleum to build one of their own. The mausoleum was restored by the Qajar rulers which was again destroyed and nothing remains of it today.

The current monument was designed by the famous French Architect, André Godard inspired by the architecture of Zand Dynasty. The structure is a platform with eight pillars made of one-piece stones and with a domed ceiling covered in Tilework. The place is one of the main attractions of Shiraz for the beauty of its structure, Hafez place among Iranian and the pleasant atmosphere that is felt there.

The post Hafez Mausoleum appeared first on Persia Advisor.