mideast-nrthafrica-cntrlasia:Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque - Isfahan, IranLocated on the eastern side of t
mideast-nrthafrica-cntrlasia:Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque - Isfahan, IranLocated on the eastern side of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the mosque was built between 1603-1619 during the Safavid dynasty. It was built for the Lebanese Shia cleric Sheikh Lotfollah who was invited to Iran by the Safavid rulers. Sheikh Lotfollah’s salary came directly from the Shah.The purpose of the mosque was for it to be a private mosque for the royal court, unlike the Shah Mosque which was larger & meant for the public. It was only centuries later when the mosque was open to the public that ordinary citizens & also westerners could have access to it & could admire the beautiful architecture. The mosque is an architectural masterpiece of Persian-Islamic architecture. -- source link