Kharraqan Towers
| Kharraqan Towers | |
|---|---|
برجهای خرقان | |
The Kharāghān twin towers | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mausoleum |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Hesar-e Valiyeasr, Qazvin Province, Iran |
Location of the mausoleum in Iran | |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°50′24.5″N 49°00′32.2″E / 35.840139°N 49.008944°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Muhammad bin Makki al-Zanjani |
| Type | Islamic architecture |
| Style | Seljuk |
| Completed |
|
| Specifications | |
| Width | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Height (max) | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Materials | Bricks |
The Kharraqan Towers (Persian: برجهای خرقان, romanized: Gunbad-i Kharraqan; Arabic: أبراج خراقان), also known as the Kharrakhan or Kharaghan Towers, are a pair of mausolea built in 1067 and 1093 CE, in the Kharraqan region, in Hesar-e Valiyeasr, near Qazvin, in the province of Qazvin, in northern Iran. They are notable for being an early example of a geometric ornament,: 142–144 an early example of double domes, and one of the earlier tomb towers that appeared in the Seljuk era of medieval Iran, during the 11th century.
The octagonal brick structures stand 13 metres (43 ft) tall, and each side is 4 metres (13 ft) wide. The surface of both mausolea demonstrate extensive use of geometry. The interior walls of the older mausoleum are decorated with paintings of various subjects.: 42 The eastern tower dates from 1067–68, and the western tower dates from 1093.