Menar-e-Jomban

Esfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran

Thursday 21st July 2011

The Monar Jonban (Shaking Minarets), or Menar-e-jomban, is a manument located in Isfahan, in central Iran. Construction began in 14th century to cover the grave of Amu Abdollah Soqla. Its notable feature is that if one of the minarets is shaken, the other minaret will shake as well. The iwan (eyvān) and porch were probably erected shortly after 1316 as a shrine for Amu Abdollah Soqla, a hermit buried here. The brick minarets were constructed later, and are probably of Safavid dynasty era origin (circa 15th to 17th century BC). The iwan is 10 metres (33 ft) high and 10 metres (33 ft) in width, the minarets are 7 metres (23 ft) taller and are 4 metres (13 ft) in circumference. The roof above the shrine contains some skilled brickwork. The minarets are responsible for the fame of the otherwise architecturally unremarkable shrine. Because of the ratio between the height and width of the minarets and the width of the iwan, if one minaret is shaken, the other will shake in unison. This example of couple doscillation can be observed from ground level.