Imam Mosque (Masjid-e Imam), Isfahan
Before Masjid-e Shah, or Mosque of the Shah. Not only this is a masterpiece of Safavid art, but of world architecture. A unique monument in grandeur and perfection, which is displayed at its best throughout the architectural knowledge of the Shahs of Persia. It was built by Shah Abbas the Great, and his erection took 26 years, being completed in 1638, when the sovereign had already died. Its plant is 120 x 130 m.
The great portal of entry, in line with the square shape, however, an angle with the axial line of the mosque, as it turns 45 degrees to orient themselves toward Mecca. The same is true Lutfallah Mosque, Isfahan and other sanctuaries.
Upon entering the mosque, the visitor is dazzled by the glittering kasis decoration, polychrome earthenware tiles with glaze, covering every last square inch of walls, arches, domes, arches and floor, and the beautiful natural lighting owns the sanctuary, with an endless game of light and dark shades that create a magical atmosphere for a ghost.
The colors of the glazes take on different hues as reflections and the light is changing with the passing hours. The pictures never repeat, each of them is a marvel of technical knowledge, thoroughness and beauty. The flowers, stems, leaves and tendrils embrace each other, following a geometric pattern not apparent to the naked eye, and curl and interact merging into intrincadísimos designs always remain, however, a pattern of symmetry. The motifs are taken from nature, but nature idealized landscapes like a mental paradise.
The great dome over the mihrab room, which reaches 21 m in diameter, is double hulled, and so what you see from the inside does not match the exterior. While the outer dome stands high with its bulbous passed on a cylindrical, reaching 54 meters high, the interior dome is recessed to fit the proportions of the room, otherwise it would be disproportionate to its height sight, causing a chimney effect. Between the inner and outer dome is a huge tight space, not accessible or visible, hidden siding with wood beams reinforced double hull. There are precedents for this type of dome Timurid architecture, and also had his heirs among the builders of India under the Mughal emperors (see the Taj Mahal).
In the center of the main iwan, under the great dome, is embedded in the floor slabs of dark color, if hit, the room resounds an echo repeated more than seven times with great clarity. Footwear needed in places of prayer. The floor is paved with fanciful motifs painted with enamels. The eastern iwan is crowned by a goldasteh, sort of square wooden kiosk pyramidal roof used to address the faithful from above. When the muezzin calls to prayer, the units are evicted to make way for the worshipers.
Source: http://web.mac.com/gcm5000/Sitio_web/_Isfah%C3%A1n.html
image source: http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/33/cc/d9/masjed-e-imam-mosque.jpg
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