Analytical Study of Decorative Motifs of Pulpit in the Grand Mosque of Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bondorabad Complex in Yazd

Problem Definition: 

"Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bondarabad" complex in Yazd is a historical building founded in the 7th century A.H. by a religious mystic, Sheikh Taqi al-Din Dada Muhammad, in the village of Bondarabad. This complex includes a mosque, monastery, mausoleum, reservoir, protective towers, and other side buildings that have been formed over several years, different parts of which have various decorations. For example, the pulpit of the Grand (Jame) Mosque of this building has many decorative motifs. Therefore, the historical importance of this building, as well as the decorative motifs used in the pulpit of its Grand Mosque, necessitated the present research, and during it, the following questions are answered: What kind of decorative motifs does the pulpit of the Grand Mosque of Sultan Mahmud Shah Bondarabad have? What meanings and concepts do these motifs have?

The current research aims to identify the decorative motifs of the pulpit of the Grand Mosque of Sultan Mahmud Shah in Bondarabad, Yazd, as well as to know their hidden meanings and concepts.

The current research has studied the pulpit of Sultan Mahmud Shah Grand Mosque in Bondarabad, Yazd, using a descriptive-analytical method and qualitatively analyzed library, documentary, and field information.

The findings of the present research show that the pulpit of the Grand Mosque of this historical building has been decorated with floral, geometric, inscriptions, and calligraphy motifs. Its plant motifs include Khataei and Arabesque, and its calligraphy motifs include Thulth and Kufic Banaei scripts, and the texts of the inscriptions also express the principle of monotheism and prophethood, the flow of the word of God from the position of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), and the belief of the Shiites of the Twelve Imams. Also, its geometric motifs include five-pointed stars and a ten-pointed sun, which form the eight-twelve Pili knot.