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The Tessellated and Elaborately Detailed Ceilings of Iranian Mosques

Celling of Hazrate-Masomeh’s mosque in Qom, Iran, all images courtesy of Mehrdad Rasoulifard (@m1rasoulifard)

Capturing the intricately tiled ceilings of centuries old mosques, Instagram photographer Mehrdad Rasoulifard (@m1rasoulifard) gives his followers both a history lesson and aesthetic treat. The ceilings are not only covered in rich patterns, but architecturally structured to appear like complex tessellations or honeycombs. The mosques are built to include spiraling series of domes and indents, causing the viewer to get lost in their disorienting beauty.

Often Iranian architecture utilizes symbolic geometry, incorporating an abundant use of circles and squares obvious in the photographed buildings’ symmetrical layouts. Popular colors incorporated into these tiled structures include gold, white, and turquoise which are typically layered onto dark blue backgrounds.

The oldest structure photographed is over 900-years-old which hints at the vast architectural history found in Iran. You can see more of the country’s detailed places of worship and observation on Rasoulifard’s Instagram. (via Designboom)

Celling of Hazrate-Masomeh’s mosque in Qom, Iran

Celling of Hazrate-Masomeh’s mosque in Qom, Iran

Celling of Sheikh-Lotfollah’s mosque in Esfahan, Iran

Sheikh Lotfollah mosque in Esfahan,Iran, about 400 years old

Sheikh Lotfollah mosque in Esfahan, Iran, about 400 years old

Celling of Shahe-Cheragh’s mosque in Shiraz, Iran

Celling of Jameh’s mosque in Esfahan, Iran, 900 years old

Celling of Hazrate-Masomeh’s mosque in Qom, Iran

Celling of Nasir-Al-Molk’s mosque in Shiraz,Iran