Zanjiri Tekyeh

🕰️When was it built?

The building's exact beginnings are unknown, but its earliest phase is attributed to the late Safavid period. It later became known as Mohammad Ali Afshar Tekyeh and expanded under Fath Ali Shah. It joined Iran's National Heritage List on 2 October 2001 as number 3997.

🏛️What was it built for?

The tekyeh was used for mourning ceremonies and taziyeh performances, with its courtyard, galleries and raised seating areas arranged for audiences and events. Toq-bandan and candle-and-lamp ceremonies are also associated with it. View the old and rebuilt sections separately to understand how the complex has changed.

👀What you will see

• The southern entrance has a stucco inscription and wooden fascia, with brickwork and tilework among its important details.
• The upper shahneshin has three courtyard-facing columns with muqarnas capitals.
• The upper gallery continues around the courtyard with wooden columns and railings.
• The thick, dried plane-tree trunk near the southern entrance once supported the chain.
• The large chain above the courtyard supports the fabric canopy; notice its position relative to the courtyard and supports.

💡Something interesting

The chain is said to have come from Russia and may once have been an old ship's anchor chain. The metal chain holds up the mourning canopy and gave the building its familiar name, Zanjiri Tekyeh.

🎒Good to know before you go