Shah Mosque (Masjid-i Shah), Isfahan
Name of Building
Shah Mosque (Masjid-i Shah), Isfahan
Town or City, Country where the building was originally established
Isfahan, Iran
Date the building was designed and/or first built
Construction begun: 1611
Completed: 1629
Completed: 1629
Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible
Architect: Ostad Ali Akbar Isfahani
Patron: Shah Abbas
Patron: Shah Abbas
Culturally Specific Time Period
Safavid period (17th century)
Geo-Location
Latitude: 32.6579 N
Longitude: 51.6772 E
Longitude: 51.6772 E
Materials
Brick, glazed tile, ceramic mosaic, marble
Size and/or Scale of Building
Large four-iwan congregational mosque with monumental dome and minarets
Architectural Type
Religious
Building Description
The Shah Mosque in Isfahan stands as a large four-iwan congregational mosque which faces Naqsh-e Jahan Square from its southern position through its massive turquoise dome and its tall minarets and its ornate tiled entrance that faces diagonally toward the square. The mosque design follows traditional Iranian courtyard architecture which guides devotees from the entrance portal through vaulted prayer spaces to the expansive domed worship area where illumination highlights both the architectural dimensions and decorative tilework. The entire structure features Safavid glazed tile artwork which displays religious meaning through its use of colored floral and geometric patterns and written calligraphy. The mosque built during Shah Abbas I's reign showcases how Friday prayer facilities served as vital elements in Safavid urban design for political and ceremonial purposes while showcasing the peak of royal support for decorative tile art in Islamic architecture.
Names(s) and location(s) of the museum holding the object(s)
N/A
Image source
Image 1:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/shah-mosque-naghsh-jahan-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 2:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/shah-masjed-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 3:https://www.meisterdrucke.ie/kunstwerke/1260px/Persian_School_-_Persian_architecture_%28Safavid%29_the_dome_of_the_Royal_Mosque_%28or_Masjid_I-Shah%29_d_-_%28MeisterDrucke-1016356%29.jpg
Image 4:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/masjid-shah-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 5:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/imam-masjid-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 6:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/masjid-shah-abbasi-isfahan-2020.jpg?w=1600
Image 7:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/the-shah-mosque-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 8:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/shah-abbasi-mosue-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 9:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/masjed-jameh-abbasi-esfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 10:https://itto.org/iran/image-bin/shah-mosque-isfahan.jpg?w=1600
Image 11:https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/474081275_1277585773464205_8362187496280109784_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=zgjX_Hntx1MQ7kNvwE_tBpI&_nc_oc=Adkdditx3dgXsHeMlYeT3Jo2KTWO2Pjl0W1XIj1lhWD1U-F2ZssYm1vepKd8wu9arKl2gX1Zbii0gcT6e1wXMWWk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=VDt-vISuvT37B-QPqQKTpA&oh=00_Afl-CV1kQI4ve1YFOUm0VF6OSCIBDDYwTOY_Xu5OYFpSHg&oe=693D2BAA
Creative Commons or other copyright information
Image 1: Creative Commons
Image 2: Creative Commons
Image 3: Creative Commons
Image 4: Creative Commons
Image 5: Creative Commons
Image 6: Creative Commons
Image 7: Creative Commons
Image 8: Creative Commons
Image 9: Creative Commons
Image 10: Creative Commons
Image 11: Creative Commons
Image 2: Creative Commons
Image 3: Creative Commons
Image 4: Creative Commons
Image 5: Creative Commons
Image 6: Creative Commons
Image 7: Creative Commons
Image 8: Creative Commons
Image 9: Creative Commons
Image 10: Creative Commons
Image 11: Creative Commons
Student First and Last Name
Mursal Abdullah
Bibliographic references for the item
Blair, S. and Bloom, J. (1995) The Art and Architecture of Islam 1250–1800. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Canby, S. (2009) Shah ‘Abbas: The Remaking of Iran. London: British Museum Press.
Archnet (n.d.) Shah Mosque (Masjid-i Shah), Isfahan. Available at: https://archnet.org/ (Accessed: December 4, 2025).
Citation
Architect: Ostad Ali Akbar Isfahani
Patron: Shah Abbas, “Shah Mosque (Masjid-i Shah), Isfahan,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/194.
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