Takht-e Foulad (Persian: تخته فولاد) is a historical cemetery in Isfahan, Iran. The cemetery is at least 800 years old. In the 13th century in the Ilkhanid era Takht-e Foulad was the most important cemetery in Isfahan and all of the famous personalities have a mausoleum in this cemetery. Unfortunately all of the mausoleums from the Ilkhanid era, except Baba Rokn ed-Din mausoleum, which is the oldest structure in Takht-e Foulad, have been destroyed. In the Safavid era there were 400 mausoleums in Takht-e Foulad, but there are now only 8 mausoleums from the Safavid era. In the Qajar era a large part of the cemetery was destroyed, but the cemetery hasn't lost its importance and by the end of Pahlavi era it was the most important cemetery in Isfahan. There are 20 structures from the Qajar era and 17 structures from the Pahlavi era in the cemetery. Before the Safavid age the cemetery had been known as Lessan ol-Arz and Baba Rokn ed-Din, but from the Safavid age until now its name is Takht-e Foulad.[1][2]
By the demand of people authorities have established Takht-e Foulad Cultural and Religious Complex in 1994 for rebuilding, organizing, and repairing this valuable cemetery. Since 1994, many gravestones have been repaired and rebuilt by this institution.[1]
The best days for visiting the cemetery are Thursdays and Fridays, because the most of mausoleums are open for visitors.[1]
Important sites in the cemetery
Mausoleum of Baba Rukn al-Din
Baba Rukn al-Din, or Baba Rokneddin, was one of the most prominent Persian Sufis in the 14th century. He died in 1367[3], and the mausoleum was built during the Ilkhanid era. It had fallen into disrepair later on, and was later restored during the Safavid era under Shah Abbas I.[4][5]
The mosque of Rukn al-Mulk, one of the national monuments[6] of Iran, is located at the edge of the cemetery. It dates back to the Qajar period, and was built by the Qajar viceroy, Mirza Soleyman Khan Shirazi, whose tomb is present within the mosque next to the entrance. The tekyeh of Mohammad Ja'far Abadei, also dating back to the Qajar era, is located south of it.
Valeh mausoleum
Burial place of Mirs
A smaller plot within the grounds of the larger cemetery, the religious personalities known as the 'Mirs' are buried here. One of them is Mir Abulqasim Fendereski, the famous mystic and scholar who lived during the Safavid era. There is a small room next to the grave which contains an embedded stucco ghazal of Hafez, which was created by Mir Emad Hassani, a calligrapher in the Safavid era. This is the only work made by him that is present in the cemetery.[7]
Many notable personalitbeen buried in Takht-e Foulad. One of them is Mir Fendereski, the famous mystic and scholar in the Safavid era. His grave has been covered by a single large piece of marble stone. On the stone, the date of the Islamic calendar has been written, which is equal to 1640 in the Gregorian calendar. In a room next to the grave, a ghazal of Hafez (in Nastaliq script) has been made with stucco by Mir Emad, the famous calligrapher in the Safavid era. It is the only inscription by Mir Emad, which has been written on the wall of a building.[8]
Mausoleum of Agha Hossein Khansari
Agha Hossein Khansari was a very influential scientist in the court of the Safavid ruler Suleiman I. His mausoleum was the only one in the cemetery which was built for a scientist.[8]
Golestan Shohada Cemetery
This cemetery is attached to the cemetery of Takht-e Foulad.[9] The cemetery is where several martyrs are buried, hence the name Shohada, is a Persianized form of the word Shuhada which means Martyr in Arabic. One of the first burials in the cemetery is that of Abolhassan Shamsabadi. Those killed in the Haft-e Tir Bombing of 1981, and those who lost their lives during the Iranian Revolution are buried here as well.[10]
Within the cemetery, there is also a cenotaph attributed as a grave to the Biblical prophet Joshua[11] however there is no evidence that he is buried there.
Mohammad Jafar Abadei Tekyeh
References
^ abc'Hosseyn Yaghoubi (2004). Arash Beheshti (ed.). Rāhnamā ye Safar be Ostān e Esfāhān(Travel Guide for the Province Isfahan) (in Persian). Rouzane. p. 120. ISBN964-334-218-2.
^Hosseyn Yaghoubi (2004). Arash Beheshti (ed.). Rāhnamā ye Safar be Ostān e Esfāhān(Travel Guide for the Province Isfahan) (in Persian). Rouzane. p. 121. ISBN 964-334-218-2.
^Hosseyn Yaghoubi (2004). Arash Beheshti (ed.). Rāhnamā ye Safar be Ostān e Esfāhān(Travel Guide for the Province Isfahan) (in Persian). Rouzane. p. 121. ISBN 964-334-218-2.
^ ab'Hosseyn Yaghoubi (2004). Arash Beheshti (ed.). Rāhnamā ye Safar be Ostān e Esfāhān(Travel Guide for the Province Isfahan) (in Persian). Rouzane. p. 121. ISBN964-334-218-2.
