Espi Mazget: A Seljuk-Period Mosque and Place of Worship in Iran
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.4
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- Iran
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Seljuk
- Site type
- Religious
- Remains
- Mosque
On this page7 sections
History
Espi Mazget is a former mosque and place of worship in Iran, on the western bank of the Dinachal River in Gilan Province. Located in Dinachal Rural District, it lies about 80 kilometres west of Rasht and 22 kilometres south of Talesh. The surviving building belongs to a Seljuk-period phase, when the Turkic Seljuk dynasty ruled large parts of the Islamic Near East and developed a distinctive architectural tradition.
Origins and early interpretations
Espi Mazget has traditionally been identified as a Sasanian fire temple. The Sasanian Empire was the last major pre-Islamic Iranian empire, and a fire temple was a Zoroastrian place of worship where a sacred fire was maintained. Excavations at Espi Mazget, however, found no Sasanian architectural remains or pottery. Stone inscriptions connect the building with the fourth and early fifth centuries of the Islamic calendar, while excavated pottery belongs to the eighth Islamic century, the period of Mongol Ilkhanid rule in Iran.
Another historical tradition holds that an earlier religious building was converted into a mosque after Islam spread through the region, possibly from the third century of the Islamic calendar. According to this tradition, prayers continued at the site for a long period. The archaeological evidence instead points to a building phase during the fifth or sixth centuries of the Islamic calendar, corresponding to the Seljuk period.
Seljuk and Safavid use
Archaeological investigations carried out in 2000, 2002, and 2006 indicate two principal periods of use. During the first, the building functioned as a mosque and place of worship, with a cemetery beside it. It was later revived during the Safavid period. The Safavid dynasty ruled Iran from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century and promoted Twelver Shiism as the state religion.
The investigations involved experts from Gilan’s cultural-heritage authorities, including Yousef Fallahian. Espi Mazget was added to Iran’s National Heritage List under reference number 2796 on 7 October 2000 and is administered as cultural heritage property by Iran’s heritage authorities.
Damage and survival
Human activity and natural forces have progressively damaged the site. Graffiti, illicit excavation, and fire affected the remains, while flooding, tree growth, cattle grazing, and earthquakes caused further deterioration. The Dinachal River eroded and damaged part of the southern side, contributing to the building’s partial destruction and its present inactive state.
Remains
The former mosque and its surrounding area covered approximately six hectares during the Seljuk-period phase. The surviving complex is organized around the remains of the mosque, its entrance, adjoining walls, and the cemetery that stood beside the building. Much of the structure has been lost, leaving a partially ruined group of remains on the river’s western bank.
Mosque building
The building measures approximately 18 metres in length and 15.5 metres in width, with surviving walls reaching up to 7.4 metres in height. Brick and plaster form its principal materials. The main entrance retains a prominent high arch associated with Seljuk architecture, while about half of the prayer hall survives together with several adjoining walls.
Tree roots have penetrated the walls and roof, creating several large cracks. Flooding and erosion by the Dinachal River have worn away and partly destroyed the southern section. The remaining entrance, prayer-hall portion, and wall fragments therefore preserve only part of the original mosque.
Cemetery and local name
A cemetery occupied the area beside the mosque during its Seljuk-period use. The site is also locally called the White Mosque. The name is explained through the Talysh word for “white,” while the term for “mosque” is associated with the same ancient Iranian word.
