Journal of Applied Science and Agriculture an Investigation the Architecture of Religious Buildings of West Azerbaijan Province
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Journal of Applied Science and Agriculture, 8(7) December 2013, Pages: 1353-1363 AENSI Journals Journal of Applied Science and Agriculture Journal home page: www.aensiweb.com/jasa/index.html An Investigation the Architecture of Religious Buildings of West Azerbaijan Province in Safavid Period 1Arzollah Najafi, 2Farzaneh Darvishzadeh Sherafatmand 1Department of Archeology, Faculty of Humanities, Abhar branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran 2Department of Archeology, Faculty of Humanities, Abhar branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Background: Studying the Islamic buildings relics, especially of the Safavid period, Received 17 October 2013 will make us familiar with the traditional context of architecture, features like view, Received in revised form 23 coverage form, construction materials initiation and completion, the used approaches in November 2013 decorating the buildings and other factors related to architecture, and it allows us to Accepted 28November 2013 observe the architecture’s development process, considering the geographical, cultural, Available online 25 February 2014 religious and social position. Objective: The objective of this research was an Investigation the Architecture of Religious Buildings of West Azerbaijan Province in Keywords: Safavid Period. Results: In Safavid period, architecture reached its highest levels of West Azerbaijan, Safavid, Religious development and absolution. The vast architectural activities were initiated in the Shah Buildings, Plan, Materials, Abbas I period. In this period, not only in Esfahan but also in other cities of Iran, were Decorations various buildings constructed. Conclusion: In Safavid period, Iran’s architectural style was restored and the building’s designs, plans, forms and materials were spread. For buildings’ decorations, plastering, tiling and plaster painting were used. The plans were mainly simple and square. A significant part of the Safavid architecture’s grace was due to its easy yet difficult to imitate design with compositions on the basis of increase and symmetry. Safavid period in Azerbaijan states, also was significant, mainly because of Azerbaijan’s bordering position with Ottoman’s Empire, which required constructions in every single place of this region. Therefore, considering the geographical and climatic conditions and also the circumstance in the region, the buildings were constructed. The materials used in Safavid period in the province, were mainly stone and brick with possessing the highest percentage of use compared to other construction materials. © 2013 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved. To Cite This Article: Arzollah Najafi, Farzaneh Darvishzadeh Sherafatmand., An Investigation the Architecture of Religious Buildings of West Azerbaijan Province in Safavid Period. J. Appl. Sci. & Agric., 8(7): 1353-1363, 2013 INTRODUCTION After the Safavid dynasty establishment, events occur in Azerbaijan. This state remains occupied for a long time and the spirit of peace in this state is due to Shah Abbas’s tact that not only suppresses the local movements, but also keeps the state clean off the foreigners’ hands (Abbasi, 1999; Afshar Sistani, 1990). Of this period’s events, one can point to the Iran and Great Ottoman’s Empire’s animosity and bordering position that this animosity reaches to its climax after the Safavid dynasty’s establishment and the declaration of Shia as the official religion of the state (Abbasi, 1999; Afshar Sistani, 1990). And eventually, these grudges and enmities lead to great battles occurring in the state. In general, in the 200-year government of Safavid dynasty, Azerbaijan has always had essential role in cultural, social, economic and political stages. As the time go by, since architecture is intertwined with the life of any era, it can give us an insight into any images in the time, and also it is influenced by various conditions. Safavid is not an exception to this rule. With this purpose in mind, for enlightening the architectural features of West Azerbaijan in Safavid period, we have identified 12 relics in this era, of which six relics are to be investigated in the following pages (Abbasi, 1999; Afshar Sistani, 1990). Introducing West Azerbaijan Province: West Azerbaijan Province is located in the utmost end of Iran’s northwest, between 35 degrees 58 minutes and 46 degrees northern Latitude, and also between 44 degrees 3 minutes and 47 degrees 23 minutes eastern Longitude (Afshar Sistani, 1990). This province covers an area of 37614 km2 which includes the 23 percent of the whole country’s area. West Azerbaijan borders with three neighboring countries. It is bounded from north by Nakhchivan and from west by Turkey and Iraq. This province is adjacent from east with East Azerbaijan and Zanjan provinces and from south with Kurdistan province. The length of water and land bordering with the Corresponding Author: Arzollah Najafi, Department of Archeology, Faculty of Humanities, Abhar branch, Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran. E-mail: [email protected] 1354 Arzollah Najafi and Farzaneh Sherafatmand, 2013 Journal of Applied Science and Agriculture, 8(7) December 2013, Pages: 1353-1363 neighboring countries is sum of 823 kilometers, of this 135 kilometers is water border with Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan) and Armenia, 488 kilometers land border with Turkey, and 200 kilometers land border with Iraq. West Azerbaijan province is a high land, and high mountains surround the region from all angles, which has created Urmia, Khoy, Chaldoran, Salmas, Maku, Sardasht and Naghadeh plains. Zagros range forms the western border of Azerbaijan between Turkey and Iraq. These mountains are elongated in the northwest to southeast direction, and begin with the Mount Ararat (also called Noah’ mountain, Ağrı Dağı in Turkish) which is called differently in different regions (Bayat, 1998; Heydari, 2003). In case of climate, the province is mainly influenced by humid air streams of Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean , but in some days of winter, the cold air masses from Russia come to this area and cause the decline in the province’ temperature. In addition to the mentioned streams, the height of the area, mountains, the winds, distance from the sea and the latitude play important roles in the temperature and humidity of the area, to that extent that the West Azerbaijan’s weather between the Caspian Sea beaches and the region, can be regarded semi-desert. In case of agrology, West Azerbaijan has various and heterogeneous composition. The climatic and topographic conditions in the first place and the erosion and vegetation factors in the second place have had impacts in the formation and the context of the various species of the province’s soil (Abbasi, 1999; Afshar Sistani, 1990; Heydari, 2003; Mashkur, 1996). Iran in Safavid Period: When the geographical and historical conditions are ready for a nation’s life, the gradual restoration of national unity influenced by accidental events and states occurs which may be inconsistent with the origin of this unity. Sheikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili’s progeny after a 200-year attempt for obtaining material-spiritual power and also for blending the elements Sharia, Tarighat and monarchy, succeeded to form the first national state in Iran Flat. Since Iran had a long political, social, cultural and civil record in the region, acknowledged itself the right to continue the relationships and to supervise the Mesopotamian’s affairs. Therefore, Ismail I, the founder of Safavid dynasty, kept the borders in West Azerbaijan, in the proximity of Euphrates River (Bayani, 1974; Savory, 2007). Azerbaijan is without any doubt, one of the states of Iran which was occupied in Seljuqid, Ilkhanate until the Timurid period by Turk invaders. They lived in this land and it was in this land that the last Turkmen dynasty, that is Aq Qoyunlu tribes, ruled over all the Western Iran. The Turks and Mongols domination in several centuries changed the political approach and the lifestyle in Iran despite the brave resistance of Iranians. Because of mass-slaughters and the adversities, the past power and greatness was falling down. As soon as the Iranians would decide to free themselves from the foreign powers’ shackles, another victorious force barged in. but since Iranians because of their historical record and civilization superiority, would not bear the yoke of bondage despite the victors’ swords, and the national value was the most important thing for them and was attempting as aforementioned to establish the Safavid dynasty’s movement, regained the lost independence, under a great leadership. Since this time, the fundament and essence of Iranian nationality and independence was restored and founded, and the history of the country, faced towards the enlightened eras. Safavid Period’s Architecture and Stylistics: In Safavid period, architecture reached its highest levels of development and absolution. The vast architectural activities were initiated in Shah Abbas I period. In this period, not only in Esfahan but also in Shiraz, Ardabil, Mashhad, Tabriz and other cities of Iran, were various buildings constructed (Kiani, 2003; Savory, 2007). Most of the buildings, such as schools, mosques and caravanserais, were constructed in four- porch form. Using mosaic and painted tiles for decorations widespread, in such a way that most of the religious buildings of this period such as domes, porches, arcades, portals and even the minarets were decorated with tiles (Kiani, 2003; Savory, 2007).