Design of Domes in Islamic-Iranian Architecture

Abstract

The most important feature of architecture at Islamic age has been regarded as strengthening the human history from plurality and unity that such architecture from the artistic dimension and world structure goes beyond the time and place. Dome has been regarded as the major element in Islamic-Iranian architecture that there is no doubt on continuity and evolution of domical buildings since Sassanid age till current age. Mosques with Arabic or column design in Umayyad dynasty have been mentioned as the early styles in Islamic architecture. These mosques follow a square or rectangular map with walled garden and roofed nave. Since 7th century, domes have been the major element in Islamic architecture. By the passage of time, dimensions of domes at mosque developed, occupied a small part of the ceiling in proximity of Mihrab to the entire ceiling above nave. According to the existing texts, the oldest dome which is referred relates to Parthian and early Sassanid era. This dome has been built in Firuzabad to the dimension of 10.16 meter and evolved at Sassanid age, after which construction of domes is exploited as a general pattern. Domical buildings in west differ from domical buildings in Iran. Interesting difference lies on transfer of dome from cylindrical buildings to square buildings in Iranian architecture. Creation of dome and formation of hollow spaces have raised creation of spiritual spaces together with sense of comfort, under which the most important phenomenon of Islamic-Iranian architecture, holy shrines and sacred places have raised. In this research, firstly we will reach to a model of construction of main dome by overview of literature at architecture of domical buildings pre Islam in Iran and formation of them with an emphasis on domical buildings especially at Firuzabad, Fars and Bishapur, then we will review the domical buildings at Islamic age especially mosques and scared places, ultimately the evolution stages of dome design is examined in Islamic-Iranian architecture.