These are two other pictures of the tiled walls of Masjed-e Sheykh Lotfollah which was a private mosque for Safavid princes and princesses.
And we ended our day with a bowl of “Ash Reshte”…
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Masjed-e Sheykh Lotfollah has an interesting entrance. You pass a dark corridor which bends, and you can’t see its end. Then you suddenly enter the big space under the dome, covered with beautiful tiles. I have been to this mosque several times, but I still become surprised when I enter there!
What was inside this bowl?
Something delicious! :-)
(Look at the new photo added to the photo gallery in the post.)
I think ‘noodle potage/pottage’ is the nearest to Ash-e/Ash [broth/soup] Reshteh [noodle]. It isn’t exact, but I think it serves the purpose.
Have you tried any “beryâni”?
No, I can’t even imagine that.
Why not? They say it’s very delicious! (Well, yes, a bit greasy, but still!)
This mosque is an artistic masterpiece worth visiting many times. Maybe because it was to be used by women only. That is why it doesn’t have minarets, so it wouldn’t invite strangers in town. The earth and sky have swapped places in it! The ceiling’s colour is yellowish, the floor is blue. The pillars are not pillars really. The walls carry the weight of the nearly 600-ton dome. And the famous peacock on the ceiling whose tail is displayed with sunlight. There is much more to say about this exquisite work of art. The American archaeologist Prof Arthur Pope (buried… Read more »
Have you seen the basement. I have heard that women prayed there and they came there through an underground tunnel directly from AliGhapou Palace.
This tunnel then destroyed because princes played Chogan in “Naghsh-e Jahan” square on top of it.
Yes, I have and if I remember correctly, there were air ducts for ventilation too. But I haven’t heard about the tunnel. I was mesmerised by the way the tiles had been cut with so much finesse, the inscription up there, and serenity of the place that I didn’t want to leave. And the princes who played polo there have surely been very stupid!
And the princes who played polo there have surely been very stupid!
How so?
On second thoughts, I think I should’ve used the word inconsiderate instead of stupid.
And how’s that? Why ‘inconsiderate’? I still don’t get it. :-)
I also have heard that the air ducts in the roof of the basement were built for a religious purpose. You know, for a Congregational Prayer. It’s very difficult to explain it in English,
I wish you would try (to explain it in English). What’s the connection between religion (congregational prayer) and air ducts?!
OK, I’ll give it a try.
You know that in Islam the queues for the prayer should be continuous while they say their prayer in congregation. In Sheykh Lotfollah mosque, men prayed on the upper floor and could see the queues of women who were praying in the basement through the air ducts in the ground. In this way their queues were continuous and they could say their prayer behind a single Imam.
These are all hearsay and I’m not sure about the source.
Spinach? Aromatic herbs? Yoghurt? If it is delicious maybe you could share the recipe?
Here is the recipe… sort of.
Back home? Is there anything you didn’t like about Isfahan?
Yes, I’m home. And about Isfahan everything was good. Actually it’s my favorite city, I enjoy anything related to Isfahan, the atmosphere, the food, the accent of people.
Thank you to let me think of this time. I have gone to Isfahan and I really appreciate this beautiful town. It was the first time I visited Iran and I remember the beauty of the mosques, especially Sheikh Lotfollâh. Outside the blue and ochre colors are beautiful in the sun. The Ali Qapu Palace is very interesting too with its special room for music. The decor with stucco could have been a good place to listen to music. At the end of the day I went to a cayxâne (a tea room), on the pavement area, at the first… Read more »
I have to admit that I have been to Isfahan only once… which is a shame for an Iranian. :-(
I think Imam Square, which used to be called Naqshe Jahân Square, is a nice place to visit, and like you, I was impressed by Sheyx Lotfollâh Mosque’s beauty. My favourite place in Isfahan though, is Si-o-se-pol, specially at night.