Among the most spectacular tourist attractions of Iran are its historical sites. Given Iran’s rich history and culture, many of its cities, such as Yazd, have preserved their historical fabric. In this article from Eligasht, we intend to introduce you to one of these historical attractions in the beautiful city of Yazd: Amir Chakhmaq Square.
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Introduction to Amir Chakhmaq Square
Amir Chakhmaq Square, or Amir Chaqmaq, is considered one of the most beautiful tourist attractions of Yazd and is registered on the list of National Monuments of Iran. The square consists of various sections, including a bazaar, a Tekyeh (a place for religious mourning), a mosque, and a water reservoir.
Additionally, the Sha’ban Caravanserai on the northern side of the square and the Bath and Baftiha Caravanserai on the west side of the Tekyeh of Amir Chakhmaq are other attractions within the complex. In front of the Tekyeh, you will also see a large pool with a fountain and several sculptures, highlighting the role and importance of water and the Saqqak culture (water carrying tradition).
This square, also called “Mir Chakhmaq” by the people of Yazd, is a symbol of the city and is used as one of the main squares for holding various programs and gatherings. One of the most popular religious programs in this square, which attracts many tourists, is the Nakhl Gardani ceremony during the month of Muharram, which is held here in all its glory every year.
Getting Acquainted with the History of Amir Chakhmaq Square
Regarding the history of the Amir Chakhmaq Square complex in Yazd, the construction of this square dates back to the Timurid era in the 9th century AH (Islamic Calendar). In fact, the square was built by order of the ruler of Yazd, Amir Jalal al-Din Chakhmaq, and with the cooperation of his wife, Fatemeh Khatun. The reasons for building the square were to further prosper the city of Yazd and develop it.
Regarding the order of construction of the buildings; first, the New Grand Mosque was built in a place outside the city of Yazd, that is, Dah or Dahak Sofla, and later, with the expansion of the city, it became the center of Yazd. After the construction of the mosque, other parts, including a public bath, caravanserai, Tekyeh, and water reservoirs, were built, and the Amir Chakhmaq Square complex was completed.
Amir Chakhmaq Square During the Safavid and Qajar Eras
It is worth noting that Amir Chakhmaq Square remained with the same name during the Safavid and Qajar eras, but small and large changes were applied to it in each of the different periods of history. For example, Shah Abbas renovated and restored the square and ordered the construction of a Chahar Suq (a crossroad market with a dome) on the caravanserai.
Also, in the 13th century AH, the square and the market’s portal were converted into a Hosseiniyeh (a place for religious ceremonies). Although at that time, the Hosseiniyeh did not have its current use. During the reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, a man named Haji Hussein Attar restored the Grand Mosque and added a new section to the mosque’s Shabestan (prayer hall).
Amir Chakhmaq Square during the Pahlavi Era
In the early Pahlavi period, Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd acquired a strange function. At that time, the structure was turned into a burial ground and mausoleum, a trend the Pahlavi government stopped. By destroying the graves, the Pahlavi government transformed Amir Chakhmaq Square back into the bustling square it had always been.
Amir Chakhmaq Square underwent significant changes during the reign of Reza Shah. Some of these changes were due to street construction in Yazd, which led to the demolition of some of the square’s walls. During this period, the square was defined to be smaller, the mosque and the courtyard facing the Hosseinieh were merged, and ultimately, the complex became the structure we see today.
Currently, of all the facades of the Amir Chakhmaq complex, only the southeastern facade remains, which is considered the main body of the Tekyeh (a place for religious mourning rituals).
Why is Amir Chakhmaq Square Named so?
But you may want to know why Amir Chakhmaq Square is called by this name and who Amir Chakhmaq was. In answer to this question, Amir Jalal al-Din Chaqmaq Shami (Amir Chakhmaq) was one of the commanders of the great Timurid King, Shah Rukh Timuri, who was chosen as the governor of Yazd by Shah Rukh Timuri in 836 AH. He was from Syria.
Amir Chakhmaq, modeling himself on Shah Rukh’s style of kingship and with the help of his wife, Fatima Khatun or Seti Fatima, spent a great deal of time on the development and prosperity of the city of Yazd. He is famous for the activities he undertook to construct and develop the city of Yazd
Amir Chakhmaq’s development activities include the construction of a bathhouse opposite the Great Jameh Mosque of Yazd, the construction of a brick pulpit in the Jameh Mosque and the completion of the tile work on its columns, the revival of the water of Dehook neighborhood by digging a well, and the reconstruction and restoration of Laristan Garden.
But undoubtedly, his most important development achievement is the construction of the new Jameh Mosque, two reservoirs, and a Tekyeh, which is now known as the Amir Chakhmaq Square complex in Yazd.
Exploring the Tourist Attractions and Different Parts of Amir Chakhmaq Square
Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd, like many other historical squares in our country, has various sections and many attractions. If you intend to visit it, it’s good to know a little about them.
Each of these sections somehow shapes the atmosphere of this historical square and is well-arranged together so that this square has nothing less than the authentic squares of the world. Join Elly Guest to see what kind of things this place offers.
1. Tekyeh of Amir Chakhmaq
The Tekyeh (a place for religious mourning ceremonies) of Amir Chakhmaq is one of the most spectacular attractions of the Amir Chakhmaq complex in Yazd. It’s located on the east side of the square and was registered on the list of Iranian national monuments in 1951. This Tekyeh is a place with various booths that are used for holding religious ceremonies.
During the Pahlavi era, due to construction operations and street-building in this area, part of the market’s facade was destroyed, and only the main facade remaining from that era belongs to the Tekyeh of Amir Chakhmaq. This facade is a three-story structure with brick booths arranged in a stepped manner.
The central section of the booths is taller than the booths on either side and has beautiful decorations and tilework. This booth is known as the “Shah-Neshin” (Royal Seat) and served as a place for dignitaries to sit and watch the Ta’zieh (Shia passion play) ceremonies in the square. The booths on either side were reserved for women and ordinary people.
2. Minarets of the Tekyeh
The minarets of the Tekyeh of Amir Chakhmaq soar above the Shah-Neshin section, and the melodious call to prayer (Adhan) from the top of them captivates everyone every day. In the Shah-Neshin section, there is an old inscription dating back to 1221 AH (1802 AD), making it 180 years old.
This building is the entrance to the Haji Qanbar Bazaar and is located right next to the Jameh Mosque (Congregational Mosque). In addition, one of the booths of the Tekyeh also has access to the complex’s water reservoir.
3. Haji Qanbar Bazaar
Among the attractions of Amir Chakhmaq Square is the Haji Qanbar Bazaar. This old bazaar of Yazd was divided into two parts during the Pahlavi era due to street construction in Yazd, and even part of the bazaar was destroyed and lost in this operation.
Currently, the northern part of the bazaar, known as Qaysariyeh (a more upscale covered market section), is more prosperous than other parts. The goods sold in the old bazaar of Amir Chakhmaq Square include various types of fabrics, traditional Yazd sweets, gold, carpets, and other items.
Haji Qanbar Bazaar is the oldest part of the covered bazaar of Yazd. The reason for this naming is the construction of this building by Nizam al-Din Haji Qanbar Jahanshahi, the ruler of Yazd in the ninth century AH. The 500-year history of the Haji Qanbar Bazaar, its architecture, and beautiful tilework make it one of the most spectacular attractions of this complex.
4. Amir Chakhmaq Mosque
The Amir Chakhmaq Mosque, also known as the Dohuk Mosque and the New Jameh Mosque, is one of the main attractions of the Amir Chakhmaq Square complex. Due to decorations such as mosaic tilework and Muqarnas vaults, it ranks after the Jameh Mosque of Yazd in terms of beauty, size, and importance.
This mosque, which was registered on the list of national monuments in 1962, was built by Amir Chakhmaq in two years, and its construction was completed in 841 AH (1437/8 AD). This mosque has two entrances, including the eastern entrance (Mosque Alley) and the northern entrance (Square).
In the Keryas (building in front of the entrance) of the mosque, a stone with an inscription in the Naskh script containing the text of an endowment deed is installed, and on both sides of the northern corridor leading to the courtyard of the mosque, delicate mosaics of tilework can be seen in the windows.
5. Mosque’s Shabestan (Prayer Hall)
The Amir Chakhmaq Mosque has a summer and winter prayer hall, with the beautiful wind towers in its summer prayer hall helping to cool the air on hot summer days. The winter prayer hall is adorned with marble, which warms the space during cold winter days by reflecting sunlight.
6. Inscriptions of the Mosque
On the dome belt of this mosque in Amir Chakhmaq Square, the phrase “al-Sultan Zill Allah” (The Sultan is the shadow of God) is inscribed in Kufic script. On both sides of its platform (suffa), two rosette medallions with Kufic inscriptions can be observed. One is adorned with the phrase “Vali Allah Al-Tawfiq” (God’s saint, with success/divine assistance), and the other contains an Arabic phrase that no one has yet been able to decipher.
Another inscription of the mosque can be seen on the eastern portal (or entrance facade), executed in Thuluth script with inlaid tile (mo’araq). The mosque’s ribbed dome is also decorated and inscribed; in addition to green tilework, a Kufic inscription surrounds it.
The Amir Chakhmaq Mosque has no minarets. According to one account, mosques founded by women did not have minarets. Another account suggests it was for the sake of Shia-Sunni unity, reasoning that Shia mosques have two minarets and Sunni mosques have one, so it was built without any to allow followers of both denominations to use it.
7. Tomb of Seti Fatemeh
Seti Fatemeh, or Bibi Fatemeh Khatun, was the wife of Amir Jalal-al-Din Chakhmaq Shami and one of the noble women of her time, renowned for her beneficence and chastity. She and her husband built many public-benefit structures, including the Amir Chakhmaq Mosque, a bathhouse, a Sufi lodge (khanqah), a caravanserai (rabat), several wells, and more.
She herself ordered the construction of her tomb, where she was buried after her death. This tomb is located in a small alley on the northern side of Amir Chakhmaq Square and consists of a domed room decorated with green tiles. The interior of this space is plaster, and inlaid tilework is used in its muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting).
8. Nakhl of Amir Chakhmaq
It is good to know that the nakhl refers to a large wooden coffin-like structure that is symbolically used in one of the mourning ceremonies of Muharram, called the Nakhl-Gardani (carrying the Nakhl) ceremony. One of the most spectacular examples of these nakhls, known as the Nakhl of the Heydaris, is located in Amir Chakhmaq Square.
The nakhl dates back to 1229 AH (1193 Solar Hijri calendar), during the Safavid era. For this reason, some consider it the oldest nakhl in Yazd.
This massive wooden nakhl, reaching a height of 8.5 meters, resembles a cypress tree (a symbol of freedom) and is considered one of the largest nakhls in Yazd province. It consists of a latticework comprised of interlocking and large beams (a complex latticework of joinery).
9. Cisterns (Ab Anbars)
It should be noted that there were a total of three cisterns in the Amir Chakhmaq Square complex. One of them was on the southern side of the square but was destroyed during the construction of the street. The Seti Fatemeh Cistern (Five Windcatchers) is located on the northern side of the square, next to the Haji Qanbar Bazaar, and was built by order of Seti Fatemeh, the wife of the governor of Yazd at the time, for the use of the people.
In addition to a beautiful brick dome and portal, this building has five tall octagonal windcatchers (badgirs) and is one of the few five-windcatcher cisterns in Yazd.
The Amir Chakhmaq Tekyeh Cistern is another cistern in this complex, located beneath the Tekyeh (a place for religious ceremonies), and was in use until 40 years ago. It has now been converted into part of the Yazd Water Museum. This cistern and Haji Qanbar Bazaar were built by order of Nizam al-Din Haji Qanbar Jahanshahi during Amir Chakhmaq’s time.
Conclusion
In this article from Eligasht, we introduced one of the authentic and historical squares of our country, located in the beautiful city of Yazd, namely Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd. This square, which was built during the Timurid era and has undergone many changes during various governments, is considered a symbol of the city of Yazd and has many attractions. If you are interested in historical squares, do not miss visiting this spectacular square.
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FAQ
Where is Amir Chakhmaq Square?
The exact address of this square is as follows:
Yazd Province, Yazd City, Imam Khomeini (RA) Street, Amir Chakhmaq Square
To which historical period does Amir Chakhmaq Square belong?
The construction of this square dates back to the Timurid era in the 9th century AH (Islamic Calendar).
What are the attractions of Amir Chakhmaq Square?
These attractions include the Amir Chakhmaq Tekyeh (a place for mourning ceremonies), Amir Chakhmaq Mosque, Haji Ghanbar Bazaar, the tomb of Seti Fatima, the Nakhl (a large wooden structure used in mourning processions) of Amir Chakhmaq, and the water reservoirs of the complex.