Imamzadeh Ismail and Shayah Mosque (Persian: امامزاده اسماعیل و مسجد شیعه) is a historical funerary religious complex in Isfahan, Iran, which dates back to both the Seljuk and Safavid periods.[1][2] This complex is number 112 on the list of Iran's national monuments, and it comprises the Imamzadeh Ismail and the Shayah Mosque.[3]
Overview
The original structure was a pre-Islamic building that was converted into a mosque during the Rashidun conquest of Persia.[4] During the Seljuk period, the mosque became known as Shayah Mosque.[4][2] After the Safavids had taken over Persia, they added a courtyard to the structure, as well as the building of Imamzadeh Ismail.[1][4]
The Imamzadeh Ismail (Persian: امامزاده اسماعيل) is built around the tomb of Ismail, a grandson of the third Ahlulbayt Imam, Hasan ibn Ali.[1] Construction started in the Safavid era during the rule of Shah Abbas I, but it was completed in the 17th century, during the rule of Safi of Persia.[4][1] The dome of the Imamzadeh is decorated with tiles, and underneath the dome is Ismail's grave.[4][1]
A devotee at the grave, worshipping Ismail
The entrance of the Imamzadeh has two gilded wooden doors with very thin lines of gold on a steel background.[4][1] A hallway within the Imamzadeh holds many paintings, painted by Mohammad Saleh Esfahani.[4][5]
The Shayah Mosque (Persian: مسجد شیعه) or Shayah-Nabi Tomb (مقبره شیاح نبی)[4] is the older part of the religious complex. It dates back to Seljuk period[1][4][5] in the 11th century, and was originally built over a smaller mosque that dated to the Rashidun period.[4][1] The mosque is believed to contain the tomb of Isaiah, who is revered in Islamic tradition as a Prophet and the advisor of Hezekiah.[4][3][1] The mosque's brick minaret dates back to the Seljuk era as well, and it is 12 metres tall, but it is ruined.[4]
