Gowharshad Mosque

Grand Mosque of Goharshad (Masjid-e Azim-e Gowharshad) with its SO-meter high faience dome and cavernous golden portal, is located immediately to the south of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza square and is architecturally perhaps even more important than the mausoleum.
Queen of a mighty empire, wife of Tamerlane's eldest son Shahrokh, patron of the arts and powerful personality in her own right, Gowharshad was one of the most remarkable women of Islamic 1 history. Although most of her major architectural commissions were at her capital Herat, this mosque in Mash had is the best preserved testament to hgenius. She built this beautiful mosque between 1405 and 1418: though within the shrine's precincts it is technically and legally separate. It covers an area of 94square meters, and has two beautiful minarets each 40 meters high. An inscription can be seen on the margin of the ivan portal, which was partially made upon the orders of a well-known Timuprince called Baysonqor Mirza. Also there is a pulpit of walnut wood here, which has been made without making use of any nail or iron pieces. Sir Percy Sykes, soldier, diplomat and historian, describes it as "the noblest mosque in Central Asia", and A U Pope as "the first and the greatest surviving Persian monument of the 15th century". The facade of its four-ivan court is decorated with brilliant mosaic tiling of the highest quality; the two stories of the arcaded rooms round the court are used for religious teaching and gathering. Behind the ivan can be seen the Shrine's golden dome and the two superb minarets.