History of Minarets

Islamic-era Minarets

 The tall structures built on roadsides or near caravansaries, schools, or other gathering places were originally watch-towers that also provided lighting for the surrounding areas. The word minaret is a derivative of noor meaning light referring to a place from where light is emitted. Thus minarets were initially light-towers purported to guide travelers during the day and in the night time.

When exactly the first minaret was built in the Islamic era is not known to us. It is believed, however, that minarets made their first appearance shortly after the building of mosques in Islamic cities.

Until then, the ‘muezzins’ or criers used the highest roof in the city to call the people to worship or to make their proclamations.

The construction of minaret in its present form was first introduced during the reign of the Ommayad caliphs. The earliest minaret is thought to have been built in late 7th century CE.

Minarets in Iran

Following the spread of Islam to Iran, social activities were largely interrupted for a short period before being resumed again heavily under the influence of the new culture. Minarets first appeared in the form of simple guiding poles near the mosques before being developed into elaborate structures flanking mosques and the entrance of monumental buildings.

 In the 8th century CE minarets were made with mud-bricks. It was not until the 9th century CE that the first brick-made minaret was built.

It is likely that the earliest brick-made minaret remaining from the late 9th Century CE is the single minaret built during the rule of Yaha-bin-Ishaq between the new and old city of Qom so that the call of the ‘muezzins’ could be heard in both cities. In addition to the minarets of Shoush (Susa), Damghan, and Qom, we may make a mention of Esfahan's Jourjir mosque minaret which was built in the late 10th century CE.

Presumably, the oldest brick-work minaret is the one made 26 Km from the city of Mashhad during the rule of Soltan Mahmoud Ghaznavi (998–1030 CE) and called Ayaz of Arsalan Jazeb minaret alternately.

11th and 12th Century CE Minarets

 Aside from the reputed minarets constructed in the cities of Qom, Semnan and Damghan, the minarets raised in this period at the sides of government building in the city of Kashan may be cited as outstanding examples. The sides of these minarets were plain without ornamental patterns. The oldest and the most reputed minaret in Iran is that of the Red mosque in Saveh built in 1087 CE and regarded as a Seljuk monumental building. Two other outstanding minarets of the Seljuk period are the Pamenar - Zavareh Minaret of the Jame Mosque of Kashan and the Barsian minaret built in 1088 and 1093 CE respectively.

Esfahan's Forty - Girl minaret (1146 CE), Mega minaret (1150 CE) Bastan minaret (1159 CE).

Gaz minaret (1165-1171 CE), Ben mosque minaret, Ali mosque minaret, Sareban mosque minaret, Ziar village minaret and Hervan minaret (1173 CE) are among other listed mosque minarets of the Seljuk period.

The Mogul, Timurid and Safavid era minarets

Although Iran underwent a sweeping destruction by the invasion of Moguls and Timurids, the later kings of those dynasties aided by able ministers gave rise to mosques and shrines with towering minarets in large numbers. The difference evidenced in this period, however, is that the minarets came in pairs. The minarets of the Ashtarjan's Jami mosques, Esfahan's Sultan Taht-Agha mosque, and Kerman's Jame mosque are among well-known Ilkhanids minarets. There is a famous minaret in Mashhad's Goharshad mosque which belongs to the Timurid period.

 The Imam (Shah) mosque, Chahar Bagh building and Shah mosque in Esfahan display the most elegant minarets of the era. With the fall of the Safavids and the emergence of the Qajar dynasty Iranian architecture witnessed a decline and the number of minarets built or repaired in that period is insignificant.

Other links:

History of Iran: Elamite Empire (2500 - 644 BCE)

Elamite history (part 1)

Elamite history (part 2)

Elamite Kings

Persian History