Aali Dome of Abarkuh

Like the city of Yazd, Abarkuh has an ancient history and spectacular monuments, and the existence of these buildings has made this city one of the exemplary cities of Iran in the area of tourism. There are more than 400 historical sites in Abarkuh City, more than 140 of which have been inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage. The Aali Dome of Abarkuh is one of the historical sites of this city, the construction of which is attributed to the Seljuq era or the time of a governor from the Daylamite Dynasty (928 to 1052 AD). This monument has, however, been on the list of Iran’s national heritage as being built during the Seljuq era (1034 to 1194 AD).

Where Is the Aali Dome of Abarkuh Located?

This dome, which is also known as “Ali’s Dome” or “Ali’s Tomb”, is a mausoleum on top of a mountain on the outskirts of Abarkuh. The urban area of Abarkuh, which is located a short distance from this tomb, can be seen well from its side. The distance of Aali Dome from the city of Yazd is about 130 km. To see this one-thousand-year-old building, one has to travel on the Yazd-Shiraz highway. Being located on a mountain, the dome is easily recognizable while approaching Abarkuh.

The Architecture of the Aali Dome of Abarkuh

Despite the fact that Abarkuh is one of the earthquake-prone cities of Iran and many earthquakes have occurred in it in the past one thousand years, the structure of the Aali Dome has remained intact and has not been damaged. The reason for this strength is the special architecture, the stone base of the building, and the special materials used in the construction of the dome. Aali Dome of Abarkuh has been completely made of stone and a mortar of plaster, lime, sand, and sarooj (sand-lime mortar), which has greatly increased the strength of the building and made it one of the strongest monuments built during the Seljuq era. Nevertheless, certain restoration works have also taken place on this building in the years 1937 and 1977 AD.

The height of the Aali Dome is 22 meters from the ground. The arch of the dome is 12 meters from the inside. The octagonal sides of the building are 4.5, 6.8, and 2.3 meters. The walls of the building have gone up to the base of the dome without any decoration. Except for three rows of muqarnas and some inscriptions, this monument has no other decorations, either inside or outside.

The octagonal structure of this building is located on a square platform whose height is two meters from the ground. This platform has edges of about 40 cm from the sides. A broader triangular platform has been created in the corners of the square platform. Some experts believe the observance of these principles is because a person has been buried in it. According to them, the building was built in the Seljuq era, but because the original founder of it was from the Daylamite Dynasty, the Daylamite style of architecture has been used in its construction.

The body of the building has three rows of muqarnas under which two inscriptions in Kufic script can be seen. There is an inscription on the stem of the building, which indicates the construction of this site dates back to the late 15th century AD (early 10th century AH). According to this inscription, a person named Ali Firuzan built this tomb as a memorial for his father whose full name was Amin al-Din Shams al-Doulah, and was the grandson of Nasr bin Hassan bin Firuzan Daylami (the governor of Abarkuh during the Seljuq era).

The inner space of the Aali Dome is almost empty. There is a relatively wide basement inside the mausoleum, that can be entered from the inside. Presently, it is not possible to enter this building and it is possible to visit its exterior. In recent years, the area around the great dome has been improved and a staircase has been created to access it. The lighting of this building gives it a beautiful effect at night.

Aali Dome of Abarkuh was inscribed on the list of Iran’s national heritage, as a mention left from the Seljuq era in the year 1933 AD.

Despite the fact that Abarkuh is one of the earthquake-prone cities of Iran and many earthquakes have occurred in it in the past one thousand years, the structure of the Aali Dome has remained intact over the centuries.