Khomeini mausoleum
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The Khomeini mausoleum houses the grave of the Shiite Ayatollah and ruler Ruhollah Khomeini as well as that of Khadidsche Saqafi, his wife, who died in 2009, and Ahmad Khomeini , his second son, who died in 1995. It was built on a confiscated plot of land that previously belonged to General Iradsch Matboie's family. It is located about 10 km south of Tehran near the cemetery of Behescht-e Zahra (“Paradise of Zahra”).
Building history
Construction of the mausoleum began in 1989 after Khomeini's death on June 3 of that year. It is still under construction; When it is completed, it will be the centerpiece of a complex that extends over 20 km², including a culture and tourism center, a university for Islamic studies, an academy, a shopping mall and a parking lot for up to 20,000 vehicles. The Iranian government has reportedly 2 billion US dollars put into the development. The architect is Mohammed Tehrani.
Building description
The mausoleum has a golden dome on a high drum , surrounded by four free-standing, 91 m high minarets ; the height of 91 m is said to symbolize Khomeini's alleged age at his death in 1989 in lunar years . The dome is 68 m high, which is supposed to symbolize the Islamic year 1368 - the year of Khomeini's death in 1989 in the Gregorian calendar. The shrine is surrounded by a spacious rectangular plaza designed to accommodate large numbers of visitors. With its size and including the qibla wall and a maqsūra , the tomb resembles a mosque - but is more precisely a Hussainia , a place where Shiite Muslims perform their Ashura rites, among other things .
Importance as a place of pilgrimage
The place is a place of pilgrimage for followers of Khomeini and his ideology. Around 10 million people were present at his funeral. The mausoleum is of symbolic importance for Iranian government officials and is visited by foreign dignitaries on occasion. Khomeini's grandson Hassan Khomeini was entrusted with the care of the mausoleum.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Digital Library: Khomeini Tomb ( memento of the original from June 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b Tehran: Recommended excursions ( memento of the original from November 20, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Khomeini's Tomb Attracts Pilgrims The New York Times , July 8, 1990
Coordinates: 35 ° 32 '57.8 " N , 51 ° 21' 57.7" E