The Chahar Padshahan (; ) is an historic

Twelver Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the Islamic schools and branches, largest branch of Shia Islam, Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twel ...

Shia Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...

mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type o ...

and

mosque A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Salah, Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard. Originally, mosques were si ...

, located in

Lahijan Lahijan () is a city in close proximity to the Caspian Sea within the Central District (Lahijan County), Central District of Lahijan County, in northwestern Iran's Gilan province, Gilan province. It serves as capital of both the county and ...

, in the province of

Gilan Gilan Province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, in the northwest of the country and southwest of the Caspian Sea. Its capital is the city of Rasht. The province lies along the Caspian Sea, in Iran's Region 3, west of the province of ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. Four rulers of the Karkiya dynasty are buried in the complex. Despite being intended as a mausoleum, the Chahar Padshahan is also used as a mosque. The mausoleum and mosque complex was added to the

Iran National Heritage List Iran National Heritage List is a register of nationally significant monuments, places, buildings, events, etc., officially registered under the National Heritage Preservation Act of 1930. According to Article 1 of this law, "All the industrial mon ...

on 12 November 1938, administered by the

Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran () is an educational and research institution overseeing numerous associated museum complexes throughout Iran. It is administered and funded by the Government of Iran. It was f ...

History

The building was originally a mausoleum for the ancestor of the Karkiya dynasty, Seyyed Karkiya, who died in 1250, and a tomb was established for him immediately after he died. After the demise of Karkiyid ruler Ali-Kiya, he was buried in the mausoleum too, next to Seyyed Karkiya. Then his son, Reza-Kiya, was buried there next to him, following him, his brother Razi-Kiya was also buried there, next to him. The Karkiyid ruler Hady-Kiya helped to expand and renovate the mausoleum where he buried his brothers in. During the Safavid era (before Shah Abbas' rule) the mausoleum was constructed and expanded. At some point during the

Qajar era The Guarded Domains of Iran, alternatively the Sublime State of Iran and commonly called Qajar Iran, Qajar Persia or the Qajar Empire, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Qajar dynasty, which was of Turkic peoples, Turkic origin,Cyrus G ...

, the mausoleum was renovated and tiled.

Architecture

The main building of Chahar Padshahan is rectangular, with four rooms, and as well as a porch facing the north direction. The building has two main entrances, and the main building, the mausoleum itself, is located on the south side of the yard. The entrance doors are made of polished wood. This building is tiled extensively, with the tilework dating from the

. The Karkiyid rulers are buried in a central room. In this room, their graves are enclosed by a wooden

zarih A zarih (, , ) or ḍarīḥ () is a lattice structure which usually encloses a grave in a mosque or an Islamic shrine. In some cases, it can also surround a religious relic on display. A zarih is built by skilled craftsmen. It can be made out ...

. The larger room, next to the tomb room, is used as a prayer hall for a mosque.

Gallery

مسجد و بقعه چهار پادشاهان 06.jpg, One of the mosque's corridors مسجد و بقعه چهار پادشاهان 08.jpg, Inside the mausoleum of the Karkiyid rulers مسجد و بقعه چهار پادشاهان 05.jpg, Paintings of the Karkiyid rulers on the upper part of mausoleum's entrance مسجد و بقعه چهار پادشاهان 11.jpg, A door leading to the mausoleum's tomb room مسجد و بقعه چهار پادشاهان 07.jpg, A copyright infringement notice, which is framed honourably مسجد و بقعه چهار پادشاهان 13.jpg, A view from the main building's porch, showing the Jameh Mosque of Lahijan across the street

History

Architecture

Gallery

See also

References

Further reading