Goharshad Mosque

Goharshad Mosque is a former free standing mosque in Mashhad of the Rezavi Khorasan Province,Iran, which now serves as one of the prayer halls within the Imam Reza shrine complex.

It was built by the order of Empress Goharshad, the wife of Shah Rukh of the Timurid Dynasty in 1418 CE. The architect of the edifice was Ghavameddin Shirazi, who is responsible for so many of Shah Rukh's great buildings, with the architectural and decorative manpower supplied from Shiraz and Isfahan.

The mosque underwent some renovations during the Safavi and Qajar eras.It has four Iwans and courtyard measuring 50m x 55m as well as several shabestans.

The double layered dome of the mosque was severely damaged in 1911 in bombings by troops of the Russian Empire.

The first and the greatest surviving, Persian monument of the fifteenth century is the beautiful mosque of Gohar Shad, now abutting the shrine of the Imam Reza in Mashhad. Its portal continues the Samarkand style of arch within arch,enriched by a succession of bevels and reveals that give it depth and power.

The full Scale of colors includes a dominant cobalt blue and turquoise, white, a transparent green,yellow,saffron, aubergine and mirror black - all tones fluctuating through several shades.