Gonbad-e Kaboud (Turquoise Dome)

Gonbad-e Kaboud or Turquoise Dome of Maragheh (a city in East Azerbaijan Province of Iran), was built in the year 1197 CE during the Seljuk era. There are also some historians who believe that it was built during the time of the Mongols, while some others say its construction dates back to before the time of Hulagu Khan.

The building of this dome, which is popularly known as the “Hulagu Dome”, is 10-sided and each side is more than six meters wide and ten meters high all of which are made of red bricks, turquoise color tiles and white stones, and it had a conical dome that was destroyed over time. This dome consists of two parts, the crypt and the main room. The sides of this tower have arches, borders and indentations and pillar-like foundations that have been built next to it.

The decoration of the exterior part of the dome is in the form of mogharnas in a straight line, geometric forms, and three rows of simple mogharnas with very fine tile pieces placed between the rows of bricklayers.

There is a plaster inscription and a one-piece stone inside the crypt, which belongs to the original building. The walls of the crypt are decorated with words such as “Allah”, “Walhamd”, etc. in various forms of Kufic script and with painting in turquoise color.

Many stories and legends have been said about this dome, which is located next to the circular tower.