Construction work on such a large scale must have left many documentary traces[1]. However, I am concerned with the symbolic depiction of Abbas’ maydan – and how its image was formed, and then transformed (in its second phase of construction). I therefore want to consider four of the Persian texts produced by Shah Abbas’ memorialisers. …
As well as the textual and image sources, there is some archaeological evidence for the maydan’s construction. This confirms the idea that it was built in two stages. In its first phase, the maydan was much larger than it is now. At least three sides (the two long sides and the south side) were “planned …
The maydan has been as described as “a hinge between the old and the new city”[1], and as “anchor[ing] the new construction”[2]. It acted not only as the everyday scene of commerce and abundance which epitomised Abbas’ imperial success, but also as the stage-set for special religious and festival celebrations. The maydan was included in …
In 1590/1, three years after he had deposed his father, Shah Abbas visited Isfahan[1]. Aged only nineteen, he was still fighting to re-conquer his own country. He had recently made a humiliating – if pragmatic – peace with the Ottomans; as well as losing Mashhad (and the important Shia shrine there) to the Uzbeks. Shortly …
From 1590/1 onwards, the city of Isfahan was transformed in a magnificent royal building programme. The dense urban agglomeration that had grown up since the tenth century was substantially extended and remodelled. Shah Abbas the Great[1] oversaw an architectural revolution in which grand structures promoted local and international commerce and splendid new leisure amenities were …
This week, I thought some of you might like to see the trailer for Pedram Khosronejad’s film about Bakhtiari lion tombstones (click here: its 16 minutes). This includes some fascinating testimony from some of the men who made the tombstones (up in situ, accommodated in tents for two or three months by the commissioning families …
I’ve been taking my own advice and enjoying myself looking at the Islamic sales in London. As well as the star tile from Khargird at Christies that I focused on last week, it was also great to see a 1920-21 album of photos of Bakhtiari men at Bonhams. This album includes a photo of Samsan …
In 1601 Muratowicz, travelled from Poland to Isfahan and back to buy, amongst other things, some carpets. Here’s a map showing what a long way it was: View muratowicz working.kmz in a larger map Muratowicz’ journey is not exactly the same as most European traders visiting Persia (he travels south of the Via Tartarica through …
This piece in Edirne, in Western Turkey, is in poor condition, which allows the construction method to be seen: it is made from many relatively simple wooden pieces, slotted together, and then ‘framed’. [C.W.3]