Davazdah Imam Tomb

🕰️When was it built?

An inscription records the date Ramadan 429 AH (June 1038) and names two brothers, Abu Ya'qub and Abu Mas'ud, as the patrons. When it took the name Davazdah Imam is not known. It was added to the National Heritage List in 1934 as number 207.

🏛️What was it built for?

Today the building is known as a shrine and tomb, and much of its historical value lies in the architecture of the dome and the writing on its walls. The patrons' names and the date of construction are recorded alongside Quranic texts and help tell the building's story.

👀What you will see

• The brick dome sits on two octagonal stages; the upper one is smaller and set back from the lower one.
• A decorative Kufic inscription on the west front sits inside a border of flower and foliage patterns.
• Above the north entrance is part of verse 163 of Surat al-Baqarah, some of which has fallen away.
• On the east side are a Quranic inscription and stucco work, some of it revealed from under later layers of plaster.
• Each side of the upper octagonal stage has three flat niches as decoration.

💡Something interesting

The walls do not change shape all at once on the way up to the dome. Two octagonal stages of different sizes step back one after the other, and the niches and small corner half-domes help make that change.

🎒Good to know before you go