Mausoleum of Aljait in Sultanis (Soltania)

 Iran > Zanjan Province > Soltanieh County > Soltaniyeh

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The Mausoleum of Aljayt is an outstanding monument of Central Iranian architecture. This is an octagonal three-story building 52 meters high, with two galleries in the walls (the lower one is open inward, the upper one is outward). It is crowned with a high pointed dome with a double shell (diameter 24.5 m, height 20 m). The dome was surrounded by eight slender towers like minarets. This is the earliest example of a two-layer dome in Iran, as well as one of the largest brick domes in the world. The mausoleum is decorated with turquoise tiles, glazed tiles, carved knocking and terracotta. The construction was basically completed by 1309, when Oljait, who had become a Shiite shortly before, decided to transfer the relics of Shiite saints to the mausoleum. In connection with this, the name Ali was included on the walls.