Tomb of Ferdowsi
Poetry is one of the most important cultural pillars of Iran. Many Iranian poets such as Saadi, Hafez, Rumi, Attar of Nishapur, Khayyam, etc. are known all over the world.
But in the meantime, only one poet dedicated his whole life to his country and people so that the Persian language would survive and be forever indebted to him. He is none other than Ferdowsi, who is considered the greatest epic writer in human history. In this article, we plan to visit Ferdowsi's tomb in Tous city and Razavi Khorasan province. Where have many events and brings with it many secrets.May the memory of Ferdowsi always be cherished.
Ferdowsi and Shahnameh:
Ferdowsi (11th century), is an Iranian epic poet and the creator of the unique Shahnameh book. Today, his book, along with Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, is the most important book of epic poetry in the history of the world, which shows Iranian life, culture and art. Ferdowsi searched for sources related to ancient Iranian stories with great effort and at his own expense and was able to collect a huge treasure of hearsay and writings. He finally finished Shahnameh after 30 years and writing 60 thousand verses.More than 90% of the words in his book are Persian. The importance of this matter becomes clear when we know that in Iran at that time, Turkish and Arabic languages were popularized and Persian language was on the verge of destruction. Ferdowsi revived the history and culture of Iran with his precious heritage, and with this sacrifice, he died in extreme poverty, and because he was a Shia, the Sunni government of that time did not allow him to be buried, and as a result, he was buried in his own private garden.
What do you know about the history of Ferdowsi tomb?
First, only one tombstone was placed on Ferdowsi's grave. It should be noted that Ferdowsi's tomb undergoes continuous and frequent changes according to the religious tendencies of the rulers. When the Sunni rulers were in power, they destroyed Ferdowsi's tomb. But when the Shiites were in the government, they built a beautiful monument on his grave. Finally, during the period of Reza Shah Pahlavi and with the beginning of nationalism, efforts to build a magnificent and modern tomb began until the construction of the current structure was completed in 1934. In general, the following points can be stated regarding Ferdowsi's tomb until today:
*During the Ghaznavid era, Ferdowsi's grave was unimportant to the rulers.
* The first attempts to build a tomb date back to the era of the Seljuk and Khwarazmian rulers.
* In the first Mongol invasion of Persia, Ferdowsi's tomb was destroyed again.
* Ghazan Khan (Ilkhanid King) again built a tomb for Ferdowsi.
* During the Safavid era, the previous building was restored.
* With the Sunni Uzbek attacks on Khorasan, the tomb was seriously damaged.
* During the Afsharid and Zand periods, Ferdowsi's tomb was hidden and forgotten due to the intense growth of grass.
* With the efforts of Qajar statesmen and European tourists and diplomats, Ferdowsi's tomb was found again.
* Until the end of Qajar rule, travelers and travel writers report about Ferdowsi's small and ruined tomb.
* The current building was built during the period of Reza Shah Pahlavi.
* Until today, this building has been renovated many times.
What are the architectural features of Ferdowsi tomb?
Karim Taherzadeh Behzad drew the first plan of the building, but with his death, the work was abandoned half-finished. After him, Hooshang Seyhoun (one of the most famous contemporary architects in Iran) started the new design, and prominent Iranian architects also undertook the construction of the building. It is interesting to know that the Europeans participated in the competition to select the building designer.The whole tomb complex has an area of nearly 6 hectares and except for Ferdowsi tomb, it includes a swimming pool, a large yard, the tomb of Mehdi Akhavan-Sales (a famous contemporary writer), the tomb of Mohammad Reza Shajarian (a singer of traditional Iranian music), a library and a museum. The tomb building is more than 1000 meters wide and 18 meters high and is made of white marble stones. At first glance, the general plan is similar to the tomb of Cyrus, but the 4 sides of this cube have two columns and each side has a column similar to the columns of Takht-e- Jamshid.In addition, the pyramidal roof has not been used; Because according to the designers, the pyramidal roof is a feature of Roman architecture. Inside this white cube, Ferdowsi's tombstone is located, which is made of marble and is decorated with poems from the Shahnameh. You can see the poems of the Shahnameh throughout the building and in all its aspects. But this is not all decorations; Eye-catching carvings that express the stories of the Shahnameh adorn the tomb of its poet. The yard has many fountains and next to it is a white statue of Ferdowsi with great elegance and beauty.
Ferdowsi's tomb is the place where the hearts of lovers of Iran and world literature beat for it!!!
Tags: Razavi khorasan Province, Razavi khorasan Attractions, Tomb, Tombs in iran, Historical Tombs in Iran