Editing Iranian architecture (section)

== Persian domes ==
{{Main|History of Persian domes}}
[[File:Ardeshir-palace-common.jpg|thumb|left|The ancient [[Palace of Ardashir]], constructed in 224 during the [[Sassanid Dynasty]]. The building has three large domes, among the oldest examples of such large-scale domes in the world.]]
The [[Sassanid Empire]] initiated the construction of the first large-scale domes in Iran, with such royal buildings as the [[Palace of Ardashir]] and [[Ghal'eh Dokhtar|Dezh Dokhtar]]. After the Muslim conquest of the Sassanid Empire, the Persian architectural style became a major influence on Islamic societies and the dome also became a feature of [[Islamic architecture|Muslim architecture]].

[[File:SultanSanjarMausoleum1.jpg|thumb|The tomb of [[Seljuk dynasty|Seljuq]] sultan [[Ahmad Sanjar]] in [[Merv]], [[Turkmenistan]]. The medieval structure with a typical Persian dome is a fine example of the Seljuq-period Persian architecture.|220x220px]]
The [[Ilkhanate|Il-Khanate period]] provided several innovations to dome-building that eventually enabled the Persians to construct much taller structures. These changes later paved the way for Safavid architecture. The pinnacle of Il-Khanate architecture was reached with the construction of the [[Soltaniyeh]] Dome (1302–1312) in [[Zanjan (city)|Zanjan]], Iran, which measures 50&nbsp;m in height and 25&nbsp;m in diameter, making it [[List of largest domes in the world#Masonry|the 3rd largest]] and the tallest masonry dome ever erected.<ref>[http://www.iranreview.org/content/view/2280/51/]{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref> The thin, double-shelled dome was reinforced by arches between the layers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/domes |title=Encyclopædia Iranica &#124; Articles |publisher=Iranicaonline.org |date=1995-12-15 |access-date=2011-03-27}}</ref>

The renaissance in Persian mosque and dome building came during the [[Safavid dynasty]], when [[Abbas I of Persia|Shah Abbas]], in 1598, initiated the reconstruction of [[Isfahan]], with the [[Naqsh-e Jahan Square]] as the centerpiece of his new capital.<ref>{{cite book |last=Savory |first=Roger |title=Iran under the Safavids |location=New York |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=155 |year=1980 |isbn=0-521-22483-7 }}</ref> Architecturally they borrowed heavily from Il-Khanate designs, but artistically they elevated the designs to a new level.

The distinct feature of Persian domes, which separates them from those domes created in the [[Christian world]] or the Ottoman and Mughal empires, was the use of colourful tiles, with which the exterior of domes are covered much like the interior. These domes soon numbered dozens in Isfahan and the distinct blue shape would dominate the skyline of the city. Reflecting the light of the sun, these domes appeared like glittering [[turquoise]] gems and could be seen from miles away by travelers following the [[Silk road]] through Persia.

This very distinct style of architecture was inherited from the [[Seljuq dynasty]], who for centuries had used it in their mosque building, but it was perfected during the Safavids when they invented the ''haft- rangi'', or seven colour style of tile burning, a process that enabled them to apply more colours to each tile, creating richer patterns, sweeter to the eye.<ref>{{cite book |last=Blake |first=Stephen P. |title=Half the World, The Social Architecture of Safavid Isfahan, 1590–1722 |location=Costa Mesa |publisher=Mazda |pages=143–144 |isbn=1-56859-087-3 |year=1999 }}</ref> The colours that the Persians favoured were gold, white and turquoise patterns on a dark-blue background.<ref>{{cite book |last=Canby |first=Sheila R. |title=Shah Abbas, The Remaking of Iran |location=London |publisher=British Museum Press |page=30 |isbn=978-0-7141-2456-8 |year=2009 }}</ref> The extensive inscription bands of calligraphy and arabesque on most of the major buildings where carefully planned and executed by [[Reza Abbasi|Ali Reza Abbasi]], who was appointed head of the royal library and Master calligrapher at the Shah's court in 1598,<ref>{{cite book |last=Canby |first=Sheila R. |title=Shah Abbas, The Remaking of Iran |page=36 |year=2009 }}</ref> while [[Shaykh Bahai]] oversaw the construction projects. Reaching 53 meters in height, the dome of Masjed-e Shah (Shah Mosque) would become the tallest in the city when it was finished in 1629. It was built as a double-shelled dome, spanning 14&nbsp;m between the two layers and resting on an octagonal dome chamber.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hattstein |first1=M. |last2=Delius |first2=P. |title=Islam, Art and Architecture |location=Cologne |publisher=Köneman |isbn=3-8290-2558-0 |year=2000 |pages=513–514 }}</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:Detail of Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum - Samarkand - Uzbekistan - 01 (7480314806).jpg|Dome of [[Gur-i Amir Mausoleum|Gur-i Emir Mausoleum]] in Samakand (early 14th century)
File:Shah-Mosque-Esfahan.jpg|Example of a common shape of Persian dome at the [[Shah Mosque (Isfahan)|Shah Mosque]] in [[Isfahan]] (early 17th century)
File:Jamkaran Mosque-3855.jpg|[[Jamkaran Mosque]], near [[Qom]] (21st century)<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Zp_5IydPGgC&dq=Jamkaran+Mosque+architecture&pg=PA154 |title=Illustrated Dictionary of the Muslim World |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-7614-7929-1 |pages=154 |language=en}}</ref>
File:مسجد سالن اجلاس بین المللی اصفهان.jpg|Modern dome architecture in the proposed mosque of [[Isfahan international convention center]]
</gallery>