Blue Mosque, Tabriz

The Kabud Mosque or Blue Mosque (Persian مسجد کبود, masjed -e Kabud ) is a mosque in Tabriz, Iran.

History

The Blue Mosque was built in 1465 by order of Chatun Dschan Begun, the wife of the leader of the Turkmen tribal federation of Qara Qoyunlu, Jahan Shah, during whose reign the so-called Empire of the Black mutton. His kingdom with Tabriz as the capital extended over large parts of present-day Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey. After his death in 1467 the remains of Shah Jahan were buried in the southern part of the mosque. The belief that the mosque was constructed as a monument to the victories of Jahan Shah, is widespread.

The complex was completed in 1465. Originally it housed a school, a public swimming facility and a library. During an earthquake in 1779, all buildings were destroyed, only parts of the mosque remained.

The used as a mausoleum southern part of the mosque is covered with marble slabs engraved with verses from the Koran. The roof of the mausoleum was also destroyed in the earthquake of 1779, but was reconstructed in 1973. The reconstruction directed by the architect Memaran Benam from Tabriz. To date, the work is not yet completed on the roof.