The role of architectural Written representations in reproduction of power in Safavid era

In the historical architectural research, in addition to building, there are many complementary data that are effective in understanding the cultural and social mechanisms of historical periods. Written texts are among the data that provide clear information on this subject. This article examines the notions of legitimacy and authority in Safavid remaining architectural texts to trace the role of Safavid ideology in the dynasty’s transformation from a Sufi order into a powerful Shiite monarchy. This article has a qualitative approach and the technique of collecting data was to review documents and observation. For this purpose, the texts have been examined in two formats from the beginning to the end of Shah Abbas I's reign. In the first part, the remaining texts of the court writers about the works of architecture, and in the second part, the text of the inscriptions in the buildings of this era have been considered. This study shows that these texts acted as a propaganda media at that time, and the sources of the Safavid legitimacy, that is, emphasizing on religious basis, hierarchical view to the cosmic system, and the attempt to increase the awe of the kings, were emphasized there.