Esfahan’s gardens and mosques: on the instrumentality of symbols as a means of retaining urban identity

Soheila Shahshahani

International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 1998, vol. 22, issue 4, 602-613

Abstract: The word paradise is of Iranian origin and refers to an enclosed garden space. In the Koran it is the permanent abode of the righteous. Its form, with flowing water, shade and fruits, is physically reproduced in gardens, mosques and carpets. The best examples of such reproduction were found in the sixteenth century, in the city of Esfahan. Today these structures still exist. How have they changed and what has remained intact? After a synopsis of Iranian history with our topic of paradise in mind, we investigate these two periods and present descriptive analyses. The objectification of the idea of ‘paradise’ is seen in the street names, and their perseverance to the present day shows the continuity of this symbol ever since the first written documents in Iran. mdash; Le mot paradis est d’origine iranienne et se rapporte à l’espace clos d’un jardin. Dans le Coran c’est la demeure permanente des vertueux. Sa forme, avec de l’eau qui coule, de l’ombre et des fruits, est physiquement reproduite dans les jardins, dans les mosquées et sur les tapis. Les meilleurs exemples de telles reproductions furent trouvés au seizième siècle dans la ville d’Esfahan. Ces structures existent encore de nos jours. Ont‐elles changé et qu’est‐ce qui est resté intact? Après un résumé d’histoire iranienne dans lequel le sujet de paradis est central, nous examinons ces deux époques et présentons des analyses descriptives. L’objectification de l’idée de paradis est visible dans les noms de rues, et leur persévérance jusqu’à nos jours démontre la continuité de ce symbole depuis les premiers documents écrits en Iran.

Date: 1998
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