The Grand Bazaar (in
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: Bazar Bozorg, بازار بزرگ) is a historical market located in
Isfahan,
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, also known as the Qeysarriyeh Bazaar (in
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
: بازار قيصريه), Qeysarie bazaar or Soltani bazaar. The main commercial activities in the Qeysarie bazaar are
carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering typically consisting of an upper layer of pile attached to a backing. The pile was traditionally made from wool, but since the 20th century synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, nylon, or polyester hav ...
and
kilim
A kilim ( az, Kilim کیلیم; tr, Kilim; tm, Kilim; fa, گلیم ''Gilīm'') is a flat tapestry- woven carpet or rug traditionally produced in countries of the former Persian Empire, including Iran, the Balkans and the Turkic countries. Ki ...
selling.
The bazaar was one of the greatest and luxurious trading center in the
safavid era. It was built in 1620 on the northern side of
Naqsh-e Jahan Square. It connects the Naqsh-e Jahan Square to the
Kohneh Square and
seljukid
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; fa, سلجوقیان ''Saljuqian'', alternatively spelled as Seljuqs or Saljuqs), also known as Seljuk Turks, Seljuk Turkomans "The defeat in August 1071 of the Byzantine emperor Romanos Diogenes
by the Turk ...
part of Isfahan.
The Qeysarie bazaar includes these parts:
* Orian bazaar
* Harounie
* Nimavard-e Golshan
* Makhlas
* Samavarsazha (
Samovar
A samovar (russian: самовар, , literally "self-brewer") is a metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water. Although originating in Russia, the samovar is well known outside of Russia and has spread through Russian culture t ...
makers)
* Maqsudbeyk
In the Qeysarie bazaar, there are many historical buildings such as
Nimavar school
Nimavar school ( fa, مسجد نیماور) is a historical school in Isfahan, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to ...
,
Sadr school,
Khayyatha mosque,
No mosque,
Zolfaghar mosque,
Shishe mosque and
Jarchi mosque. The
Qeysarie gate is the main entrance of the bazaar.
History
It was originally constructed during the 11th century, on the southwest wing of
Jameh Mosque and
Kohneh Square but various arcades and rooms were later added to it. The present remnant dates from the
Safavid period, during which the Qaysariya Bazaar was built on the north wing of
Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a square which was developed as a substitute for
Kohneh Square.
The bazaar, one of the oldest and largest
bazaars in the
Middle East
The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...
, dates to Saljuqid and Safavid era and is the longest roofed market in the world. The site has been destroyed several times and the contemporary bazaar dates to the 17th century. The bazaar is a vaulted two-kilometre street linking the old city with the new.
In the Middle-East, bazaars were typically situated in close proximity to the mosque and the Isfahan Bazaar is no exception. The Bazaar of Isfahan is located in downtown old Isfahan, Iran, in the northern section of the
Naqsh-e Jahan Square. The main entrance called Qeisarieh stretches through to the Friday mosque
Jameh Mosque the oldest mosque in Isfahan, and one of the oldest in Iran.
Before entering the Grand Bazaar visitors can see views of the square, which is one of the biggest squares in the entire world. All around the square are bazaars full of Persian handicrafts.
See also
*
References
Bibliography
* A. Bakhtiar: ‘The Royal Bazaar of Isfahan’, Studies on Isfahan, ed. R. Holod, 2 vols, Iran. Stud., vii (1974), pp. 320–47
* H. Gaube and E. Wirth: Der Bazar von Isfahan (Wiesbaden, 1978)
*
External links
Iran Chamber Society on Architecture of the Bazaar at Isfahan
Buildings and structures completed in the 10th century
Buildings and structures in Isfahan
Architecture in Iran
Isfahan
Tourist attractions in Isfahan
17th-century mosques
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