Hasht Behesht
General information
Architectural style	Iranian
Location	Isfahan, Iran
Coordinates	32°39′12″N 51°40′13″E / 32.6534°N 51.6702°E / 32.6534; 51.6702

Hasht Behesht or Hasht-Behesht (هشت‌بهشت, also romanized as Hašt-Behešt, lit. 'the Eight Heavens') is a 17th-century pavilion in Isfahan, Iran. It was built by order of Suleiman I, the eighth shah of Iran's Safavid Empire, and functioned mainly as a private pavilion.^[1] It is located in Isfahan's famous Charbagh Street. It was also the first modern school in Isfahan was called His Majesty's School (Madrese Homayouni).^[2][3]

Structure

As indicated on its name, the two-story pavilion of Hasht Behesht was built on the hasht-behesht plan, that is a type of floor plan consisting of a central hall surrounded by eight rooms.^[4] The building is of an octagonal shape,^[4] and has two main entrances. Four larger sides of it feature large balconies (iwans), under which some tall and thin wooden columns are raised.

The pavilion is decorated with mural paintings, perforated woodwork, prismatic mirrors, tilework, and plasterwork.^[1][5]

Gallery

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  An 1840 drawing of Hasht Behesht by French artist Pascal Coste
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  Hasht Behesht seen from behind the pool
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  A room inside Hasht Behesht
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  Interior of a ceiling in Hasht Behesht
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  Interior of a ceiling in Hasht Behesht
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  Interior of a ceiling in Hasht Behesht
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  Interior of a ceiling in Hasht Behesht
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  An exterior view of Hasht Behesht
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  Hasht Behesht at night