Naein : desert city in Isfahan

Naein or Naeen is a desert city in Isfahan Province, which neighbors Semnan Province in the north, Khorasan Province in the east, Yazd Province in the east and Ardestan and Isfahan cities in the west. The city has desert climate and experiences extremely hot summers and relatively cold winters.

The history of the city dates back to the Achaemenid (550-330 BC) and Parthian (247 BC–۲۲۴ CE) eras when Naein served as an administrative center for Yazd. After the advent of Islam, the city became a rest stop for Caravans crossing the desert.

The name of the city is said to come from the Persian word ‘Ney’ meaning reed and it was named Naein as there were numerous reed beds in the area.

Naein is the producer of one of the finest and most sought-after Persian carpets. The Naein is made of high quality wool or silk and has a Shah Abbasi design. A Shah Abbasi design consists of elegant arabesque, palmette and lotus motifs and requires a high knot density. The Naein rug often has blue highlighting on cream or ivory backgrounds.

The city has various historical attractions ranging from the Parthian Narenj Castle, to the Jame Mosque, which is one of the first Islamic places of worship built in the country, the Mosalla prayer grounds where mystics and Naein Personalities are buried , Fatemi House and the ancient Reigareh Watermill.

One of the most prominent figures to hail from the city is scholar, journalist and politician Dr. Hossein Fatemi (1917 – 1954) who was a close associate of Pahlavi era (1925-1979) Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq (1882-1967) who nationalized Iran’s oil. According to Mosaddeq, it was Fatemi who originally proposed the nationalization of Iranian oil and gas assets.

Baba Abdullah Mosque

Baba Abdullah Mosque is a 14th century structure located in Naein Bazaar. The current mosque consists of a façade, several Shabistans (inner sanctum), a courtyard, a dome chamber and an iwan (a vaulted hall walled on three sides and open on one side).Located on the south side of the courtyard is the dome chamber, which has a square plan and seems to have been part of the original mosque. There are 10 grave markers in the dome chamber which date back to the Ilkhanid era (1256–۱۳۳۵). There is a wooden plaque, which was once part of the pulpit of the mosqe), in the dome chamber bearing an inscription with the date 1300. The walls of the dome chamber have moqarnas decorations. There is a blue tucco inscription below the dome.

The Mihrab (prayer niche) is decorated with Quranic script intertwined with geometrical and floral motifs. Baba Abdullah Mosque has a winter Shabistan under parts of the courtyard, which receives light through vents in the courtyard. Baba Abdullah Mosque was registered as a National Heritage Site in 1935.

Jame Mosque

Jame Mosque is a two-story structure that dates back to the 9th or 10th century and is considered one of the first mosques to have been built in Iran. The mosque has been built to resemble the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina. The mosque has a large courtyard surrounded by Shabistans (inner sanctums).

The mosque has two types of inscriptions: stucco inscriptions and inscriptions painted over stucco. The painted inscriptions are in Kufic script and are located above the façade of the Jame Mosque.

The Jame Mosque has a pulpit, which appears to have been a later addition to the mosque based on its inscription in the Naskh calligraphy hand that bears the date 1311. The pulpit has monabbat decorations in the form of floral carvings.

Khan Ab-Anbar

Khan Ab-Anbar or Twin Ab-Anbar is a Qajar era (1785-1925) water reservoir consisting of wind towers, dome and valve. Water reservoirs or ‘Ab-Anbars’ as they are nationally known, are traditional water supply systems that make urban settlements possible in the desert region of Central Iran. Ab-Anbars consist of four elements: underground reservoir, platform, dome, and wind tower.

Masoum Khani Ab-Anbar

Masoum Khani Ab-Anbar is a water reservoir in the Chehel Dokhtaran (forty girls) neighborhood of Naein situated directly across from Khan Ab-Anbar. Ab-Anbars are traditional water supply systems that make urban settlements possible in the desert region of Central Iran. Ab Anbars consist of four elements: underground reservoir, platform, dome, and wind tower. This Ab-Anbar, which was built after the Safavid era (1501-1722), was registered as a National Heritage Site in 2005.

Masoum Khani Ab-Anbar

Masoum Khani Ab-Anbar is a water reservoir in the Chehel Dokhtaran (forty girls) neighborhood of Naein situated directly across from Khan Ab-Anbar. Ab-Anbars are traditional water supply systems that make urban settlements possible in the desert region of Central Iran. Ab Anbars consist of four elements: underground reservoir, platform, dome, and wind tower. This Ab-Anbar, which was built after the Safavid era (1501-1722), was registered as a National Heritage Site in 2005.

Mohammadieh Castle

Mohammadieh Castle or Ashourgah Castle is located atop a hill overlooking the Mohammadieh neighborhood of Naein. Due to its strategic location it is believed that the castle was once part of the defenses of the city. Mohammadieh Castle dates back to the pre-Islamic era and has six watchtowers.

Mohammadieh Jame Mosque

Mohammadieh Jame Mosque is a two-story structure that dates back to the 10th or 11th century. The mosque is a two-iwan structure with a central courtyard surrounded by porticos as well as a winter Shabistan (inner sanctum), an ablution area and an octagonal basement with brickwork decorations.

The Mihrab (prayer niche), resembles that of the Naein Jame Mosque, and has a small brick dome. The ablution area, which is fed by a still-in-use Qanat, is located on the left side of the courtyard and directly in front of the main entrance.The Mohammadieh Jame Mosque was registered as a National Heritage Site in 2004.

Mosalla

The Naein Mosalla, prayer grounds, was a large garden where locals frequented until a few years ago. The Mosalla includes the tomb of Seyyed Mohammad Nourbakhsh (1392-1464), a Sufi master and the founder of the Noubakshia order. The date 1546 is inscribed on his tombstone. There are several octagonal crypts in the area with blue-tiled domes. There is an Ab-Anbar (water reservoir) on the western side of the Mosalla with two wind towers. The Mosalla of Naein was registered as a National Heritage Site in 1987.

Naein Bazaar

Naein Bazaar is a kilometer-long vaulted street that was still in use until a few years ago. This historical bazaar was greatly expanded during the Ilkhanid era (1256–۱۳۳۵). The Naein Bazaar has a domed ceiling with arches and round skylights at the center if each dome. Shops are lined on both sides of this street and some of them are built in two stories (ground level and basement).

Narin Castle

Narin or Narenj Castle is a Parthian (247 BC–۲۲۴ CE) structure and one of the oldest structures in the historical texture of Naein. It is believed that the castle was originally a Fire Temple which was converted into a military fortress and the city was developed and expanded around it.This mud brick castle had towers on every corner and was encircled by a moat in ancient times. It is believed that the castle, which is partially damaged, was still in use until the Qajar (1785-1925). The castle has been registered as a National Heritage Site.

Pirnia House

Pirnia House is a Safavid (1501-1722) structure and one of the best examples of desert architecture. Situated directly across from the Naein Jame Mosque, the house was originally the residence of the governor of Naein and was later passed on to the Pirnia family in the Qajar era (1785-1925).The house includes an entrance, Hashti (vestibule), Shahneshin balcony, corridors, garden, backyard, Birouni (space used by men and guests) and Andarouni (Space used by women and servants). One of the main features of the house is the wall paintings and stucco reliefs in the Shahneshin balcony, governor’s office and hall of ceremonies some of which feature poems.