Oxford Studies in Islamic Art

1 primary work

A Monumental Manifestation of the Shi'ite Faith in Late Twelfth-century Iran

by Raya Shani

Published 24 October 1996

This text looks at the medieval monument of the Gunbad-i `Alawiyan in Hamadan, which is a unique and intriguing architectural phenomenon, with an amazing richness of brick and stucco decoration both within and without. The book contains a complete recording of the Gunbad-i `Alawiyan, based on regular visits to the site conducted by Professor Shani during the years 1974-1978. In this book Profesor Shani succeeds in solving many controversial issues by tracing the person who built the monument and was eventually entombed there. The author concludes that the monument was erected under the patronage of the Saljuq Fakhr al-Din Ala al-Dawla `Arabshah, built as a family grave but with the central purpose of manifesting the Shiite faith of the `Alawiyan family.