ARCHITECTURE (2)
Iran
Architecture in Iran is distinguished for for its refinement and delicacy. Contrary to the
huge and massive monuments built by the Mughals and Turks, Persian architecture has a
gracefulness all its own.
Persian Muslims who formed the vanguard of all cultural and artistic movements in the
Islamic world introduced many innovations and beautiful designs in architecture.
Unfortunately Persia had never been the seat of any of the Islamic Caliphates or great
empires, hence one does not come across big palaces, mosques and.other grand buildings as
are found in Baghdad, Damascus, Istanbul, Cairo, Cordova and Delhi. But, in spite of this
handicap Persia did not lag behind in producing some of the greatest intellectual and
artistic luminaries of the Islamic world and whatever architectural monuments are found in
Persia have their own peculiar charm and style.
In Islamic countries such buildings as monastries, mosques, tombs and palaces are found in
large number. The Persians brought about a great change in the style and architectural
design of mosques. Due to ever increasing number of mosques, congregations had very much
decreased and Persians were obliged to design a new type of mosque in order to meet the
requirements of the time. This is called the Persian type of Mosque which had a Madrassa
attached to it. In this typical Persian design, the mosque courtyard used for ablution as
well as for prayers is surrounded by two storeyed verandahs behind which are situated
small rooms for teachers and students. From the middle of each side run open halls, open
to the front and roofed with a vault of ogee arches. Each hall called Iwan, containing
Mahrab and Minbarserves as lecture room.- Such iwans, twice ashigh as the adjacent part of
the Building are splendidly ornamented and flanked by small minarets. A smaller iwan of
the same type serves as the gateway. The main iwan is crowned with a dome narrowed at the
bottom and it contains the founder's Tomb or Mahrab..
Writing about these mosques a well-known European writer says, "With their slender
minarets their magnificent iwaras and gateways and their lofty domes (often gilded)--these
buildings are among the most astonishing buildings Of the East". The walls of these
mosques are always overlaid with mosaic of dull or glazed bricks and smooth tiles of
various colours which are artistically decorated with lines of carved Arabic script and
flower arabesques. The slender pillars Immensely add to the charm of the buildings. Un,
fortunately these buildings are in a state of decay. The most celebrated of this type are
"The Blue Mosque of Tabriz" and the "Masjjd Shah" at Tabriz which were
constructed in the 15th century A,D. Other mosques of similar or slightly older type are
the great mosque of Veramin (1322 A.D.) that of Isfahan (11--14 century) the mosque
containing the Tomb of Imam Raza at Mashhad (1418 A.D.) and the Masjid Shah at Isfahan
(1600 A.
In the Juma Mosque of Isfahan, a quadrangle surrounded with four iwans of Persian madrassa
was added to the old Piered Mosque. This mosque was originally built in pillared mosque
and frequently, enlarged and as usual was surrounded with bazaars.
The ancient Friday Mosques have not survived in Persia except a few old parts standing in
a great complex of buildings that formed the great mosques of Isfahan and Shiraz. Abu
Muslim in the reign of Caliph Mamun built two big mosques in Merv and Neshapur of which
the latter was built on pillars of wood and designed in typical PerSian style. An old
mosque of the 1Oth century A.D. has survived in Naizin, an old desert city of Isfahan. The
iwan and mahrab court were added to the mosques of Persia in the 11th century. The Friday
Mosque of Isfahan built in the 12th century A.D., is one of the finest and largest
congregational mosques of the East. This is built of bricks and decorated with plastered
Reliefs and Polished Tiles. Its minarets being cylindrical in shape and placed in pairs
are covered with glazed tiles and are not very high. It was in Persia that the art of
ornamentation and arabesque in architecture was most developed and Persians made the
greatest use of glazed coloured tiles in their buildings. From the 13th century onward
Persia and India made the greatest advancement in architecture and Persia developed its
own style. The art of arabesque which became very popular in Islamic architecture was
widely adopted by the Western world.
The favourite form of princely Tomb in Persia from the 1Oth to the 14th centuries A.D. was
that a Tower was constructed over the grave surrounded with circular ground plan. A
conical roof rested on the projected ornamented walls beneath which was the grave on which
was inscribed in beautiful carved letters the name, titles and date of death of the
deceased. The finest tomb of the kind is that of Momina Khatoon at Nakhichavan.
Among the old type of Persian Palaces are Qasr-e-Amra with vaulted baths adorned with
frescoes and the HIRA found at Mshatta. These are rectangular Castles and in order to
reach the hall of audience one has to pass through a number of ante-rooms. Attached to the
hall are the princes apartments and Harem.
At the back is a private garden and soldiers quarters are on both sides.
Caravansarais in Persia which were fortified hostelries for travellers were built on the
plan of a Iwan mosque--the rooms were used as stalls and guest rooms. There were carved
streets in the attached bazaars, . and they had pillars with round arched vaulting in the
west and long rows of curved arched vaults in the east. The Old type of sarais found in
Istanbul were decorated with tiles copied from Persia.
Almost all the old Persian bridges have disappeared. The two very beautiful bridges
joining Isfahan and Zulfa constructed in the 17th century still exist and have two
storeyed superstructures and pavilions.
Private houses are of varied type--reception and living rooms are Separated from female
apartments and a second courtyard is provided for them. There are different devices for
cooling apartments in the East and West. In Mediterranean countries where water is in
plenty there are constructed half darkened inner halls containing springs while in dry
Persia and Iraq there are underground summer apartments with projecting ventilators.
A dome is the favourite feature of Islamic architecture. In Cairo It was pompous while in
Persia it was bulbous and carved with glazed tiles. The cylindrical shaped minarets Of
Persia were not much used in other Islamic countries.
In Muslim countries mostly horse-shoe or pointed horse-shoe arches were designed. The
semi-circular or two centred arches were not much employed. The typical Persian arch of
which the springing curve turns into straight lines was commonly used in Persia for a long
time and at times resembles the "Tudor" arch.
Battlements in buildings were fully decorated with floral forms or cut into saw-teeth. The
windows of old Persian buildings were carved with lattice work in which coloured glasses
were fixed.
In Persia buildings are generally made of bricks and glazed tiles too are frequently used
here. These tiles were primarily of geometrical forms but later diverse floral forms were
introduced.
One of the most popular branches of Muslim architecture is that of ornamental writing,
which is employed with great success in the decoration of mosques, tombs and palaces where
lines from the Holy Quran are carved or inlaid round domes and minarets, doors and arches.
Persians developed this art to a great extent and widely used ornamental writings in the
decoration of tombs and mosques.
In beauty and grace, in design and simplicity, Muslim architecture is superior to any in
the world.
The Mughal Architecture in East Pakistan
The great Mughals who splendidly ruled over the Indo-Pak Sub-continent for more than four
centuries are known as the greatest builders in history. Their ancestor Babar founded a
vast Empire in India which rivalled in prosperity and splendour the great Caliphates of
Abbasids and Omayyads in Spain. Delhi their metropolis, along with Baghdad and
Constantinople, Cairo and Cordova was considered one of the finest cities of the known
world. The Mughals who are well-known for their pomp and pageantry have raised some of the
most magnificent architectural monuments in the East. Delhi houses the splendid Jamma
Masjid (Grand Mosque), the Majestic Red Fort and the matchless Pearl Mosque, all built by
the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. He is also the distinguished builder of the immortal Taj
Mahal of Agra. In Lahore stands the magnificent Badshahi Masjid (King's Mosque) built by
the celebrated emperor Aurangzeb. Dacca which had the privilege of being the headquarter
of the Mughal viceroy governing the Eastern Provinces possesses some striking Mughal
buildings .
The earliest contacts of the Mughals with the Eastern province may be traced back to the
close of the 16th century A.D., when Afghans who dominated over these parts yielded to the
Mughals and they established their headquarters at Tanda near Gaur, about 15 miles
South-west of Malda in West Bengal. It was in 1612 A.D., that the Mughals got complete
supremacy over Bengal and Islam Khan, the Mughal governor transferred his Capital to
Dacca.. This caused a great change in the life of Bengal and added immensely to the
prosperity of the people.
The oldest Mughal monument in Bengal is a ruined mosque erected in 1582. A.D. in
Chatmohar, District Pabna. It contains three arched entrances, which still exist, The
central arch has traces of having been richly decorated with ornamental designs.
Another monument of the same period is a mud fort constructed in 1595, A.D. by Raja Man
Singh, the Bengal Governor of the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Salim Nagar, in Bogra District.
The best massive monument of this period is a mosque known as Kherua Masjid which is
situated at a short distance from the Tomb of Saint Bande Saheb. This mosque, which was
built in 1582 A.D. by Murad Khan Qasshaly, measures 57x24 1/2, and has 6 feet thick walls.
The mosque is rectangular in shape and the central gateway contains an inscription. The
arches are decorated with floral designs which greatly contribute to their charm.
Later Mughal Monuments
Dacca which was the headquarter of the Mughal viceroys possesses some of the finest Mughal
architectures in East Pakistan. Shaista Khan, the maternal uncle of the great Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb and Prince Muhammad Azam, the third son of the celebrated emperor who
were successive viceroys in the Eastern Provinces of the Mughal Empire were the two
persons credited with enriching East Pakistan with grand Mughal monuments rarely visible
in these parts of the Sub-continent. It is futile to compare the Mughal architectural
monuments of Dacca with those of Delhi Agra and Lahore which for long periods, had the
privilege of being the metropolis of the great Mughal Empire. Being a Provincial Capital,
Dacca may favourably be compared with any other Provincial Capital and to that extent it
possesses more than its share of Mughal monuments. Bogra and Mymensing, too, possess a few
buildings built by the Mughals.
Old Idgah
The remains of the old Idgah, built by Mir Abul Qasim, the Dewan of Prince Shuja in 1640
A.D., still stands about 1 1/2 miles outside Dacca municipal limits. The building is of
plastered brickwork, standing on a raised platform 245 x 135' in size.
The remains of Bara Katra built of plastered brick; work in 1644 by Mir Abul Qasim on the
north bank of the river, are still visible and remind people of the commercial prosperity
of Mughal times. It had 22 big shops and was also used as a caravansarai. Its three
storeyed lofty gateway and the river side walls which are 200 feet long, have faced the
ravages of time. The chamber of the main gate as well as the interior of the arches are
ornamented with plaster net work and floral designs which are preserved in a dilapidated
state.
Lall Bagh Fort
On the Eastern corner of old Daccastand the remains of the incomplete Lall Bagh Fort or
Fort Aurangabad, whose construction was commenced by Prince Muhammad Azam, the third son
of Emperor Aurangzeb, but could not be completed as the Prince was summoned by his
illustrious father in 1679 A.D. to join his forces against the Marahttas. The finished
part of the fort contains two main gates on the north and south in a 2,000 feet long
massive walls. The fort was built of red bricks. The river Purl Ganga, which, in those
days, washed the south western corner of this majestic fort, has slightly changed its
course, leaving a track of land which has been converted into meadows. The bastion
adjacent to the main gateway is of gigantic size and has a raised platform 13 feet wide
for the stationing of guns. The stately three storeyed gate on the south, with a four
centred arch-way built of stone and crowned with a plastered dome, is the most attractive
part of the building. Adequate protective measures were taken in the construction of the
building against river Piracy.
Pari Bibi's Tomb
The Tomb of Pari Bibi, standing amid the unfinished Lall Bagh fort is like a lotus flower
in a big pond. It is the mausoleum of Bibi Pari (Lady Fairy), the favourite daughter of
Shaista Khan. The Mughal Viceroy Shaista Khan whose sister Mumtaz Mahal has been buried in
the immortal Taj Mahal, the finest mausoleum ever built on the surface of the earth,
raised another matchless Tomb for his beloved daughter Pari Bibi. Built of black, grey and
white marble stones brought from,Bihar, U.P. and Rajputana, this mausoleum is the finest
specimen of Mughal architecture in the Eastern Provinces. The walls and the floor of the
burial chamber are made of white marble lined with black. The walls of the four cornered
rooms previously had multi-coloured glazed tiles and were decorated with floral designs,
which now are missing. The 'series of corbelled roof', with its excellent timber work is
the most striking portion of the building. The grave which is made of white marble in
three steps, presents a simple but sober specimen of the arabesque, The doors were
originally of carved sandal wood.
Domed Mosque
Prince Muhammad Azam built in 1678 A.D, a small three domed mosque which is located about
50· yards west of the tomb of Pari Bibi. The walls of the mosque are coated with coloured
plasters. Another small mosque and an adjacent tomb built in 1679 A.D, by Haji Khwaja
Shahbaz, a business magnate ofDacca are situated at a distance of about half a mile from
old Dacca. The walls, which are made of bricks are panelled. The tomb is square in shape,
having four central gates, one on each side. This tomb 'represents the average Bengali
style of the time of Aurangzeb'.
Red Mosque
A red brick mosque built by Khan Muhammad Mirdha in 1706 A.D., stands North-west of the
Lall Bagh fort. Another mosque, which is said to have been built by Shaista Khan in 1689
A.D. stands majestically on a low rock near Jafarabad, about two miles outside Dacca. A
lot of ornamentation and floral designs, though in decayed form, are still visible inside
the mosque.
Brick Fort
Idrakpur, a place at a distance of about 15 miles from Dacca still contains the
dilapidated remains of a small brick fort built in 1660 A.D. by Mir Jumla, the invincible
General of Emperor Aurangzeb, who was posted as the Governor of Bengal. It was constructed
to provide a check to Portuguese pirates, who had become a nuisance in that part of the
Mughal Empire. The fort is 270 feet x 240 feet, containing a long high platform used
probably for mounting the big guns. Two other small forts were also built side by side for
similar purposes and throw light on the coastal defence measures taken during the 17th
century A.D.
Brick Bridge
Mir Jumla is also known to have built a plastered brick bridge over a tributary of the
Bari Ganga in 1659--63 A.D. about 5 miles south-east of Dacca. On each side of both ends
of the bridge are small projected pavilions. Considering the limitations of engineering
during the 17th century, this bridge may be cited as an excellent example of workmanship
in these parts of the sub-continent. Besides those in Dacca, there are a number of Mughal
architectural monuments scattered on other districts of East Pakistan which include the
Tomb of Banda Sahib and Polar Masjid in district Bogra; the mosques of Shah Muhammad and
Aurangzeb in district Mymensing; and the mosque built by Govind Manikya at Shuja Ganj in
district Comilla. All of these bear the characteristics of later Mughal architectural
style.
Copied from 'THE ISLAMIC SCHOLAR'