Jameh Mosque of Qaen

🕰️When was it built?

The exact date of the original building is uncertain, but it is attributed to the 13th century, during the Ilkhanid era. An iwan inscription records restoration ordered by Jamshid Qaren in 796 AH (1393-1394). Earthquakes damaged the mosque repeatedly, followed by repairs, so its parts belong to different periods.

🏛️What was it built for?

The mosque served communal prayer and gatherings. Two prayer halls beside the iwan provided more suitable spaces in cold weather and helped support its tall walls. Shallow chambers frame the central courtyard.

👀What you will see

• The 18-metre iwan has an 11-metre-wide opening and forms the tallest part of the mosque.
• Look up at the four arches and three domes above the iwan, with their painted decoration.
• The two mihrabs. Why the mosque has two is still debated.
• A tablet to the right of the iwan entrance bears Riqa script and records a restoration order from Shah Suleiman of the Safavid dynasty.
• The 33-by-28-metre courtyard is lined with shallow chambers, with prayer halls on either side of the iwan.

💡Something interesting

During his visit to Qaen, Nasir Khusraw described the great arch of its Friday mosque, saying he had seen none larger in Khorasan. Its scale impressed travellers centuries ago, although the date and location of the original building remain debated.

🎒Good to know before you go