Imamzadeh Ismail and Shayah Mosque
An overview of the religious complex as seen from its courtyard
Religion
Affiliation	Twelver Shi'ite
Province	Isfahan Province
Location
Location	Isfahan, Iran
Municipality	Isfahan
Shown within Iran
Geographic coordinates	32°39′47″N 51°41′09″E / 32.663186°N 51.685767°E / 32.663186; 51.685767
Architecture
Type	mosque, mausoleum, Imamzadeh
Completed	Shayah Mosque in the 11th century, Imamzadeh Ismail in the 17th century
Specifications
Dome(s)	2
Minaret(s)	1 (belonging to Shayah Mosque)

Imamzadeh Ismail and Shayah Mosque ( Persian: امامزاده اسماعیل و مسجد شیعه) is a historical funerary religious complex in Isfahan, Iran, which dates back to both the Seljuk and Safavid periods. ^{[1] [2]} This complex is number 112 on the list of Iran's national monuments, and it comprises the Imamzadeh Ismail and the Shayah Mosque. ^[3]

Overview

The original structure was a pre-Islamic building that was converted into a mosque during the Rashidun conquest of Persia. ^[4] During the Seljuk period, the mosque became known as Shayah Mosque. ^{[4] [2]} After the Safavids had taken over Persia, they added a courtyard to the structure, as well as the building of Imamzadeh Ismail. ^{[1] [4]}

Imamzadeh Ismail

Imamzadeh Ismail
The dome of the Imamzadeh
Architecture
Type	Imamzadeh
Completed	17th century

The Imamzadeh Ismail ( Persian: امامزاده اسماعيل) is built around the tomb of Ismail, a grandson of the third Ahlulbayt Imam, Hasan ibn Ali. ^[1] Construction started in the Safavid era during the rule of Shah Abbas I, but it was completed in the 17th century, during the rule of Safi of Persia. ^{[4] [1]} The dome of the Imamzadeh is decorated with tiles, and underneath the dome is Ismail's grave. ^{[4] [1]}

The entrance of the Imamzadeh has two gilded wooden doors with very thin lines of gold on a steel background. ^{[4] [1]} A hallway within the Imamzadeh holds many paintings, painted by Mohammad Saleh Esfahani. ^{[4] [5]}

Shayah Mosque

Shayah Mosque/Shayah-Nabi Tomb
The purported tomb of Isaiah
Architecture
Type	mausoleum
Specifications
Minaret(s)	1 (ruined)
Minaret height	12 metres
Materials	brick

The Shayah Mosque (Persian: مسجد شیعه) or Shayah-Nabi Tomb (مقبره شیاح نبی) ^[4] is the older part of the religious complex. It dates back to Seljuk period ^{[1] [4] [5]} in the 11th century, and was originally built over a smaller mosque that dated to the Rashidun period. ^{[4] [1]} The mosque is believe to contain the tomb of Isaiah, who is revered in Islamic tradition as a Prophet and the advisor of Hezekiah. ^{[4] [3] [1]} The mosque's brick minaret dates back to the Seljuk era as well, and it is 12 metres tall, but it is ruined. ^[4]

Gallery

• 
  A painting in the Imamzadeh Ismail
• 
  The muqarnas underneath the dome of the Imamzadeh
• 
  A sign board at the Shayah Mosque, displaying the Islamic story of Isaiah and a mention of many other tombs dedicated to him throughout Iran
• 
  One of the doors in the religious complex, with muqarnas style above the doorway

See also

• List of historical structures in Isfahan for a more comprehensive list on the historical sites in Isfahan, Iran
• List of mausoleums in Iran for a complete list of mausoleums in Iran

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Imamzadeh Ismail (Isfahan).

References