On the investigation of decorative elements and architecture of the minarets of the Seljuk period in Isfahan

Problem definition: 

The minaret is one of the special decorative-functional elements in religious buildings and has an ancient background in pre-Islamic Iranian architecture. During the Seljuk period, which is one of the most important eras in the history of Iran, minarets of different dimensions and sizes were constructed in the city of Isfahan with beautiful decorations of brickwork, tile, plastering and inscriptions, which evoke dazzling majesty and beauty. These minarets have different uses and each of them has provided an appropriate context for the creativity and artistry of its founders and architects. The present research explores the decorative pattern types of these minarets.

The aim of the present study is to recognize the decorative patterns of the minarets belonging to the Seljuk period in Isfahan.

The present study has been conducted based on an analytical-comparative approach and the data has been collected in a combinative (library-field) manner.

The present achievements indicated that the minaret construction has become increasingly important in the Seljuk period in Isfahan and in most of the examined ones, various decorative designs have been implemented using brickwork technique, which are important in terms of the aesthetic visual elements further to the practical aspects.