Tarikhaneh Mosque

The Tarikhane Mosque is the oldest mosque in Iran and is recognized as the most important monument in the counties under Semnan Province. The mosque is located in the city of Damghan, in the southeastern part of Damghan. It has a rectangular plan designed as a prayer hall facing the Qibla, along with a central courtyard and surrounding porticos.

History of Tarikhane Mosque

The architecture of this building is recognized based on Sasanian architectural elements, and its historical significance dates back to the second century AH and the early Islamic period. This building is considered one of the oldest mosques in Iran, and some recognize it as the first mosque in Iran. This monument was registered on January 5, 1931, with registration number 80 as one of the most important national monuments of Iran. Due to the lack of historical inscriptions in this mosque, it is only possible to refer to its registration year based on the existing architectural styles and elements. Prominent architects and historians, including André Godard from France and Eric Schmidt, have studied this building, and due to the similarity of its large bricks with those of the Sasanian era, as well as the construction of its porticos, courtyard, minbar, and its Qibla-facing mihrab—which are common features of mosque architecture during the Umayyad period—they can attribute this monument to the late Umayyad era.
 André Godard, in an article published in the "Mehr" magazine in 1933 regarding the history of Tarikhane in Damghan, has stated that considering the decorations and Sasanian features, it can be claimed that in the initial stages of the construction of this mosque, its design and planning were in fact intended to resemble a temple. However, a significant gap between the planning and construction of this mosque resulted in changes to the final structure. In summary, the initial construction of this mosque can be attributed to the reign of Harun al-Rashid between the years 170 and 193. 

Reason for Naming Tārīkhāna Mosque

The name "Tarkhineh" is composed of two parts: "Tari" meaning God in Turkish and "khane" or "hane," which ultimately implies the concept of the House of God. In some sources, this mosque is also referred to as "Chehel sotoon" (Forty Columns). The original number of columns in this mosque was 34, which may have been rounded up to 40 in the local people's minds due to the large number of them. 
 

Architecture of Tarikhane Mosque

Columns in Tarikhane Mosque

The number of columns in Tarikhne was originally 34, of which only 26 remain today. Eighteen of these columns are located in the main prayer hall, while the rest are in the central courtyard. The columns were constructed using very large bricks characteristic of the Sasanian era, with dimensions of 7 by 34 centimeters. In some areas, particularly the columns of the central archway, there are plasterworks that closely resemble those of the Nayin Grand Mosque.
 

Arches in Tarikhane Mosque

 The main arch of this building was collected and restored in 1931 by Mr. Mirza Alami, one of the preachers of Damghan. The restoration costs were covered by the people, and there is a significant difference between the old and new materials used, which is clearly visible.

Porticos in Tarikhane Mosque

 The porticos of this mosque are highly reminiscent of Sasanian architectural elements. The arches and vaults of this mosque bear a strong resemblance to ancient structures and the Iwan of Karkheh attributed to Shapur II of the Sasanian era.
 

Mihrab in Tarikhane Mosque

 The mihrab of the Tarikhane Mosque has a deep arch with a keystone (oval- shaped) and is located next to the minbar in a rectangular plan. It is noteworthy that unlike other mihrabs, this one is not positioned in the middle of the wall; otherwise, the minbar, which is located to the right of the mihrab, would have been hidden from the view of some listeners during the sermon. The designated standing area in the mihrab is situated 50 centimeters lower than the ground level, and the materials used in the construction of the mihrab are consistent with those used in the rest of the Tarikhane building.
 

Minbar in Tarikhane Mosque

The minbar of Tarikhane  was constructed simultaneously with the initial construction of the mosque around the second or third century AH. Its triangular and stepped shape shares similarities with the stone minbars of the Copts. It appears that in the main prayer hall, the central archway was larger than other sections and the location of the mihrab and minbar. It seems that nothing remains of the minbar, as it was destroyed between 1976 and 1977, but its mihrab still exists and is currently visible in the mosque.
 

Minaret in Tarikhane Mosque

Over the centuries, this mosque has undergone numerous restorations, with new architectural elements added. Brick minarets were added to the complex during the Seljuk period, which now stands at 25 meters tall and is decorated with brickwork. According to the Kufic inscription of the mosque, the minaret was built by Bakhtiyar ibn Muhammad in the fifth century AH and is connected to the Tārīkhāna complex.
 Next to the Tarikhane Mosque on the north side, there is a minaret made of brick. This minaret is 26 meters tall and has 86 steps inside. Its circumference at the base is about 13 meters, and as the height of the minaret increases above ground level, its circumference decreases, so that at the top, the circumference is 8.6 meters. This minaret has no platform and is circularly constructed from the ground.  There are brick decorations on the minaret that serve as its façade and ornamentation. At a height of 5 meters, there are Kufic inscriptions that are 30 meters wide, of which only "Amir al-Sayyid al-Ajl" is readable.
 The bricks used in the internal construction measure 4 to 5 centimeters in thickness and 22 centimeters in length and width, while those used in the external decorations measure 5 centimeters in length, 17 centimeters in width, and 5 centimeters in thickness. The height of this minaret was greater in the past, and it seems that part of the top and its cap collapsed due to an earthquake. This minaret is attributed to Bakhtiyar ibn Muhammad, the ruler of the Qumis province and the patron of the poet Manuchehri Damghani, who is also credited with the construction of the minaret of the Jam'e Mosque of Semnan.
 

Tarikhane Mosque Entrances

 On the western side of the prayer hall, there is an entrance passage with features typical of Sasanian doorways, which is likely intended for entry into the covered and winter section of the mosque. Opposite the prayer hall, there were seven entrance arches, one of which likely served as a staircase for accessing the mosque's roof.
 The other six arches belong to rooms, of which only one room remains today. The main entrance of the mosque was located on its eastern side, which now, due to the destruction of the rooms opposite the prayer hall, is accessed through one of the room entrances.
 

Sasanian Features of Tarikhane

By comparing the Tarikhane Mosque with other contemporary Islamic mosques, it is evident that Sasanian architectural elements are clearly visible in the architectural style of Tarikhane. For example, unlike the mosques of Cairo and Damascus from the same period, the columns in Tarikhane have a larger diameter that closely resembles the thick columns of Sasanian palaces.
 Another point of similarity is the type of ceiling in the Tarikhane Mosque, which, unlike the ceilings of other mosques that are supported by horizontal columns, is supported by arched vaults and features a type of arch called "taq-e ahangi." Another similarity of the Tarikhane Mosque with other Sasanian structures is its columns. These columns, with their wide arches and openness on the longitudinal side (the outer side of the mosque), remind us of the prominent iwans of the Sasanian era.
 This type of architecture is entirely Iranian and devoid of any foreign elements, including those from the Roman Empire or other Islamic countries. Rather, it is the same Sasanian arches that are constructed in a chain-like manner and consist of two elevated bases. Another point of similarity between Tarikhane and Sasanian palaces is the use of a layer of brick in the construction of the building instead of the initial foundation of construction.
  

Tarikhane Mosque in the Seljuk Era

The Tarikhane Mosque in Damghan has been restored and renovated in various periods. The brick minaret, which is decorated with brickwork, is 25 meters tall and was added to the mosque during the Seljuk period. The Kufic inscription of the mosque indicates that this building was constructed by Bakhtiyar ibn Muhammad in the fifth century. The mosque has played a significant and foundational role in Iranian culture after Islam, and the Tarikhane Mosque stands out among Iranian mosques, both in terms of structure and architectural form, as well as aesthetic elements, shining like a gem.
 We hope to  see you in Iran, Semnan Province , the city of Damghan, and the Tarikhane Mosque in the near future. Hosting you as the Sana Persian team is an honor that we hope to achieve soon. Looking forward to that day.