eyvān
Quick Summary
An eyvān is a vaulted hall or space, often found in Islamic architecture, particularly in Iran. These structures are characterized by their arched openings and are frequently used in mosques and other significant buildings.1
The Great Mosque of Isfahan features four prominent eyvāns that frame its central courtyard. One notable example is the smaller domed chamber, built in 1088, which is considered a masterpiece of structural design and has remained undamaged for centuries. This chamber is constructed from small, gray baked bricks and features a unique arrangement of arches. The mosque complex itself showcases a variety of architectural elements from different periods, including private chapels and a library.2
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Ghaznavid dynastyThe Ghaznavids introduced the “four eyvān” ground plan in the palace at Lashkarī Bāzār near Lashkarī Gāh, on a plateau above the Helmond River, just north of Qalʾeh-ye Best, Afghanistan. An eyvān is a large vaulted hall, closed on three sides and open to a court on the fourth. The…
Read MoreThe Ghaznavids introduced the “four eyvān” ground plan in the palace at Lashkarī Bāzār near Lashkarī Gāh, on a plateau above the Helmond River, just north of Qalʾeh-ye Best, Afghanistan. An eyvān is a large vaulted hall, closed on three sides and open to a court on the fourth. The…
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IslamArchitecture…and the four sides called eyvāns. With the advent of the Seljuqs in the 11th century, faience decoration (glazed earthenware) of an exquisite beauty was introduced, and it gained further prominence under the Timurids (14th–16th centuries).
Read More…and the four sides called eyvāns. With the advent of the Seljuqs in the 11th century, faience decoration (glazed earthenware) of an exquisite beauty was introduced, and it gained further prominence under the Timurids (14th–16th centuries).
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Islamic artsArchitecture in Iran…large vaulted halls known as eyvāns; the eyvāns created the compositional axes of each side of the court. On the side of the qiblah (which indicates the direction of the sacred shrine of the Kaʿbah, faced by the faithful during prayers), the hall of the main eyvān was followed by…
Read More…large vaulted halls known as eyvāns; the eyvāns created the compositional axes of each side of the court. On the side of the qiblah (which indicates the direction of the sacred shrine of the Kaʿbah, faced by the faithful during prayers), the hall of the main eyvān was followed by…
Read More- Islamic artsArchitecture
Madrasahs used eyvāns, and the justly celebrated madrasah of Sultan Ḥasan in Cairo (1356–62) is one of the few perfect four-eyvān madrasahs in the Islamic world. Mausoleums were squares or polygons covered with domes. In other words, there were only minor modifications in the typology of architecture,…
Read MoreMadrasahs used eyvāns, and the justly celebrated madrasah of Sultan Ḥasan in Cairo (1356–62) is one of the few perfect four-eyvān madrasahs in the Islamic world. Mausoleums were squares or polygons covered with domes. In other words, there were only minor modifications in the typology of architecture,…
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history of MesopotamiaThe Parthian periodIn architecture the use of ayvans (arches in porticoes) and domed vaults is attributed to the Parthian period; they may have originated in Mesopotamia. Parthian art influenced that of the Nabataeans in Roman territory, as it did others throughout the Middle East.
Read MoreIn architecture the use of ayvans (arches in porticoes) and domed vaults is attributed to the Parthian period; they may have originated in Mesopotamia. Parthian art influenced that of the Nabataeans in Roman territory, as it did others throughout the Middle East.
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Iranian art and architectureParthian period…characteristic of Islamic architecture: the iwan, or three-sided hall, the fourth side of which is replaced by an open archway. At Hatra and in a Parthian palace at Ashur, the iwans multiplied in number, and the adjoining facades are decorated with engaged columns, singly or in tiers, corresponding approximately to…
Read More…characteristic of Islamic architecture: the iwan, or three-sided hall, the fourth side of which is replaced by an open archway. At Hatra and in a Parthian palace at Ashur, the iwans multiplied in number, and the adjoining facades are decorated with engaged columns, singly or in tiers, corresponding approximately to…
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