Khosrogerd Minaret
Khosrogerd Minaret is a 12th-century tower located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the west of Sabzevar, Iran, and is all that remains of the Silk Road town of Khosrogerd, destroyed by the Mongols in 1220 AD.[1] It is an example of Seljuk architecture.[2]
The minaret was built around 1112 AD[1][2] (in the 6th century AH) by the order of "Taj-o-dowleh Ab-ol-ghasem-ebn-e-saeed" during the time of the reign of the Seljuik Dynasty, and is almost 30 metres (98 ft) in height.[1] On top of the tower are tablets in the kufic script, and diamond decorations. At the time of its construction it was one of the tallest spires in Iran. It was registered as national treasure of Iran in 1932.
According to archeological researches, the tower is a free-standing spire which was built as a path-finding guide for caravans along the path of the Silk Road, and served as guide for caravans.
Further reading
References
- Jonathan Tucker (12 March 2015). The Silk Road - Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran: A Travel Companion. I.B.Tauris. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-85773-926-1.
- Patricia L. Baker; Hilary Smith (2009). Iran. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 243–244. ISBN 978-1-84162-289-7.
- Arthur Upham Pope, Persian Architecture, 1965, New York, p. 16