Ribat-i Sharaf ( or ) is a historical

caravanserai A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was an inn that provided lodging for travelers, merchants, and Caravan (travellers), caravans. They were present throughout much of the Islamic world. Depending on the region and period, they were called by a ...

, or rest place for travellers, located in Razavi Khorasan province,

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 ...

, between

Merv Merv (, ', ; ), also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian peoples, Iranian city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium& ...

and

Nishapur Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ni ...

. Built in the 12th century (first built 1114–15), the building looks like a fortified rectangle from the exterior. The internal courtyard and

four-iwan floor plan An iwan (, , also as ''ivan'' or ''ivān''/''īvān'', , ) is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. The formal gateway to the iwan is called , a Persian term for a portal projecting f ...

is a traditional characteristic of

Iranian architecture Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (, ''Me'māri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC with characteristic examples distr ...

and of

Islamic architecture Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both Secularity, secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Muslim world, Islamic world encompasse ...

in the wider region.

Historical background

In a desert area along the route between the cities of Marv and Nishapur lies the ''Ribat-i Sharaf'', named after Sharaf al-Din ibn Tahir or Sharaf al-Din Qummi who is believed to be its patron. Sharaf al-Din served as the governor of Khorasan for forty years and as a vizier during the reign of Sultan Sanjar (1118–1157). Not long after its construction, the building suffered destruction at the hands of Bedouins. However, it was soon, in 1154 restored and remodeled by Turkan Khatun, the daughter of the Khan and the wife of Sultan Sanjar.

Architecture

The ribat preserves significant decorative elements and exquisite inscriptions that reflect the artistic characteristics of the period. It stands as an exceptional example of caravanserais and ribats from that era. The ribat consists of two sections within a single architectural framework. The entrance is located on the southeast side through a ''pishtaq'', leading to a long ''iwan'' that opens onto an open rectangular courtyard. Along the same axial alignment, a corridor connects this courtyard to another open space, this time square-shaped. Continuing along this straight path leads to the second section of the ribat, culminating in another ''iwan'' and a dome. This axial line, beginning from the ''pishtaq'' at the façade and ending at the dome, divides the ribat into two nearly symmetrical halves. The first section of the building, which includes the rectangular courtyard, is surrounded on three sides: the southeast side housing the main entrance, the northeast aisle, and the southwest aisle. These three aisle are covered, with each featuring a central ''iwan''. The northeast and southwest ''iwans'' share identical architectural compositions, each topped with a shallow dome. The main entrance ''iwan'', however, is distinguished by the ''pishtaq'' at the entrance. The remaining covered areas, excluding the ''iwans'', comprise small rooms intended for travelers and merchants. This section was primarily designated for visitors and itinerant merchants traveling along the Silk Road and the trade route on which this caravanserai is situated.

References

Buildings and structures completed in 1114 12th-century architecture Ribats Caravanserais in Iran Buildings and structures on the Iran National Heritage List Tourist attractions in Razavi Khorasan province {{Iran-struct-stub

Historical background

Architecture

See also

References