Sheikhiha Mosque, an Unknown Building in Yazd's Old Sharestan

In the historical district of Yazd, there are monuments on which little knowledge. Although some are registered as national heritage, but there no valuable study on them; among them is a mosque previously known as “Sheikhiha” and “Aghaieha” while presently is called “Sheikhiha”. This is located at “Vaght-o-Saat” district. Although important researchers and architects visited the city, Sheikhiha mosque is not known yet. Interiorized structure of the monument which is related to religious cult of Sheikhiha has no view from peripheral paths which seems it can be the main reason that the building remained unknown in architectural studies, therefore studies on the mosque can be undoubtedly useful in understanding original Iranian architecture. Present study concerns to achieve the history of the mosque construction. As a fundamental research, present study naturally and methodically is historic-descriptive. Required information collected bibliographically and from field surveys which analyzed and interpreted combining using “historic approach” comparatively. the results indicate that the earliest core of the mosque is a sanctuary dates to 3rd and 4th A.H. centuries. Present heterogeneity of roofing of the sanctuary to earliest structure, next to an inscription dated to 10th AH century, indicates that it expanded at later periods especially in Safavid era, and gradually “lancet archs” replaced “round archs” with pillars. Its’ general plan can be compared to Fahraj-e Jami and ancient part of Meybod-e Jami from early Islamic centuries. A sanctuary with length of two to five openings and similar width to latter mosques imply their construction in the same historic horizon; finally it expanded with an internalized nine fold dome as winter sanctuary, probably in Zand and Qajar periods. The latter sanctuary is remarkably equal to nine fold dome mosques in plan and details. Here, the prayer niche considerably indicates early sanctuary front which is a traditional nine fold dome pattern in similar mosques since earliest Islamic periods. Concave structure of the prayer niche caused constructors needless to protect prayer niche (Maqsüreh). However, there is not good quality and durability in the material used in the structure; it never caused reduction in historic significance of the winter sanctuary. The mosque is one of the earliest mosques of the city which lived later as a small mosque by developing and flourishing the city that is used until modern times.