Qazvin Friday Mosque

Main divan with domed hall

The Friday Mosque in Qazvin (also Masdsched-e Dschāme , Persian مسجد جامع عتيق قزوین Masjid-e-Jameh Atiq Qazvin ) is one of the oldest mosques in Iran .

history

The mosque was established under the rule of the Abbasids - Caliph Harun al-Rashid in 807. Remains of this first mosque settled in the Southeast part of the plant find. The most important parts of the mosque, however, date from between 1106 and 1153. The prayer hall is dated to 1113 or 1119. It was later cultivated, most recently during the reign of the princely family of the Safavids . The mosque's double staggered dome has a diameter of 14 m and is one of the largest Seljuk domes in Iran. The dome is inaccessible to the public. It contains valuable treasures. This includes medieval calligraphy among other objects . The mosque has been renovated several times during its existence, most recently in 1992.

The mosque is built in the four-iwan construction typical of Persian architecture . On the other hand, the large dimensions of the enclosed courtyard are unusual. The foundation of the complex rises above a Zoroastrian fire temple . Despite the devastating invasion of the Mongols , which destroyed the Abbasid caliphate (based in Baghdad ) after the siege of the city in 1258, the mosque is still in use today. Certain parts of the mosque have been converted into a library.