Tomb of Abesh Khatun

🕰️When was it built?

The exact date of the building is not clear. It once had three floors and a dome; after the dome and part of the third floor collapsed, the top floor was removed to protect the rest of the building. It was added to the National Heritage List in the winter of 1931–32 as number 76.

🏛️What was it built for?

The complex is known as the tomb of Abesh Khatun, the last Atabeg of Fars. The grave is in the courtyard, inside a separate room. Abesh Khatun was of the Salghurid house, and through her marriage to a son of Hulagu her life became tied to the Mongol court.

👀What you will see

• The main building is of brick and has a square plan, each side about 17 metres, rising to about 10 metres.
• Tile inscriptions with Quranic verses in thuluth script are set high on the building.
• Of the mosaic tilework that once wrapped the building, part survives on one side; the decoration has not survived equally on every side.
• The burial room in the courtyard is marked by green bars and differs from the main brick building.

💡Something interesting

Some of the tilework from inside the building has been moved to the Pars Museum and is kept there. So the complex's historic decoration survives partly at the tomb and partly in the museum.

🎒Good to know before you go

• As you look at the brick front, notice the inscriptions high on the building too; the thuluth writing is done in tile.