A DEVASTATED MASJID BUILT BY ILKHANIDS IN TABRIZ2

Abstract

Ilkhanids which is the Iran branch of Mongols established a state and Tabriz was its capital. Both histories of Mongols and Tabriz have “first events” in that period, Mongols have recently begun permanent settlement and Tabriz has hosted the hugest buildings that we are never seen during its architectural history. Another important event for Mongols was the acceptance of Islam as a legal religion of the state in the period of Gazan Khan in Tabriz. Vizier Taceddin Ali Shah, Ilkhanids vizier, built one of the excessive sized buildings called Tabriz Alishah Masjid. Southside as a whole block, partly west and east sides reached today and even the rest of the devastated building makes people feel its magnificence. The building was used both as a masjid and later as a citadel. Because of this, it can be introduced not only as a religious structure but also as a military structure as well. Art historian assists us at plans, restitutions and several hypotheses to understand the first situation of the building. Researchers are interested in Tabriz Alishah Masjid’s brick architecture, plain ornaments and its insolvable cover element problem.