Chehel Dokhtaran minaret

The Chehel - Dochtaran Minaret (Persian مناره چهل دختران [ mɛnɑɾɛ jɛ t͡ʃɛhɛl doxtæɾɑn ] ) is a historic minaret in Isfahan, Iran. The minaret stands in the Jewish quarter of Isfahan. According to a Kufic inscription it was built in 1112. The minaret is the fifth oldest minaret in Iran, which has an inscription.

The minaret has a large window, which is geared towards Qibla. The other minarets of Isfahan not share this characteristic. The staircase is applied spirally and leads up to the top of the 21 meter high structure. Initially to have been higher the minaret, but it was in the course of time - trimmed - how many minarets. The minaret towers over the district significantly and is good to see from a distance. Difficult to be searching designed by the labyrinthine alleys and narrow streets.

Etymology

Chehel Dochtaran in Farsi: forty girls. The origin of this name is unclear. The number forty is used in Iranian culture to the hype. Perhaps there was once a building next to it, which belonged to the women, but no longer exists. The living next to the Tschechel - Dochtaran Minaret people call it " Garland Minaret ". Garland was a British missionary who arrived in the early 20th century in Iran and worked next to the minaret.