Crystallization of the Shi i Ideas in Formation of Mosques In Safawid and Qajar Periods (Shahid Matahhari and Imam Mosques)

The most prominent manifestation of human’s high spirituality and transcendental identity can be found in hidden layers of sacred Islamic art in building mosques. It seems that mosques built in the golden era of spiritual, financial and political power of the Shiites in Iran enjoyed a special spiritual identity. With the establishment of Safawid government in early tenth century AH and proclaiming the Twelver Shiism as the official religion in Iran, this country regained its political and national identity after centuries, and Shiism gradually penetrated in Iranians’ soul. This made Iranian artists create artistic works full of Shiite spirit and identity. The architecture of the mosques, as the manifestation of such beliefs, enjoyed special delicacy in design that reached its zenith in Safawid and Qajar Periods. In Qajar Period, a new method in architecture was created and the architects of the period followed the architects of the Safawid period. In the present study, we have tried to compare the architecture of the Safawid and Qajar periods to investigate the principles, foundations, and patterns of the old architecture in Iran and the innovations of those periods, although it seems that the architecture of Qajar period did not enjoyed the necessary strength for creating a new architecture. Therefore, in the present study, two masterpieces of Islamic, and especially Shiite, architecture – Imam Mosque in Isfahan and Shahid Mutahhari Mosque in Tehran – have been comparatively studied by recognizing the sacred principles governing the design of Shiite mosques. Based on the results of this study, we can find the difference and the perfection of the period between Safawid and Qajar governments in factors such as design, atmosphere, inscriptions and colors used in decorations on walls and minarets.