- Source: Baba Ghassem Mausoleum
Baba Ghassem Mausoleum (Persian: آرامگاه باباقاسم) is a historical mausoleum in the Ebn-e Sina district of Isfahan, Iran. It dates back to the Ilkhanid period and is number 100 on the list of Iran's national monuments. The mausoleum is located to the north of Jameh Mosque of Isfahan.
History
Baba Ghassem, also known as Baba Qasim al-Isfahani, was a religious teacher and a Sufi mystic. He would teach at a madrasah in Isfahan. Not much is known about his life. When he died, he was buried next to the madrasah. In the years 1340-1341, his student, Sulayman ibn Abu'l Husayn ibn Talut al-Damghani, built a mausoleum over his grave with a conical dome. During the reign of Safavid ruler Safi of Persia, the building was renovated by a local patron.
Architecture
Rectangular in shape, the building is topped by a conical dome that has eight layers. On the base of the dome, the words Allah-Tauba, Nabi Muhammad, Din-i-Islam, and Imam Ali are visible in a repeated manner. The entrance has a shabestan with an arch above full of muqarnas.
Inside the building, there is a wooden door with Thuluth inscriptions on it, leading to the domed tomb chamber. Under the dome, two inscriptions made with mosaic tiles can be seen. One of them is written around the nave (below the dome's base) and contains phrases from the Qur'an. The other inscription written below the first inscription refers to the name of the founder of the mausoleum.
Inside the mausoleum, the grave of Baba Ghassem is located underneath the dome enclosed by a wooden cage-like structure. A standalone grave is also present, and it is dedicated to an unknown individual named "Mirza Ali" who died in 1577.
See also
List of historical structures in Isfahan for a more comprehensive list on the historical sites in Isfahan, Iran
List of mausoleums in Iran for a complete list of mausoleums in Iran