Tomb of Saadi

The Tomb of Saadi (Persian: آرامگاه سعدی شیرازی)^[a] is a tomb and mausoleum complex dedicated to the Persian poet Saadi, commonly known as Saadieh (Persian: سعدیه). The complex is located in the city of Shiraz, in the province of Fars, Iran.

Tomb of Saadi
The tomb in 2016
Religion
Affiliation	Sunni Islam
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Mausoleum
Status	Active
Dedicated to	Saadi
Location
Location	Shiraz, Fars province
Country	Iran
Location of the complex in Iran
Geographic coordinates	29°37′21″N 52°34′59″E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Mohsen Foroughi (1952)
Type	Islamic architecture
Completed	13th century CE 1187 AH (1773/1774 CE) 1952 CE
Destroyed	17th century (rebuilt)
Specifications
Dome(s)	One
Site area	10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft)
Materials	Granite; stone; marble
Iran National Heritage List
Official name	Saadi Mausoleum
Type	Built
Designated	9 December 1975
Reference no.	1110
Conservation organization	Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran
[1]

The complex was added to the Iran National Heritage List on 9 December 1975, administered by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran.

History

Saadi was buried at the end of his life at a khanqah at the current location. In the 13th century, a tomb was built for Saadi by Shams al-Din Juvayni, the vizir of Abaqa Khan. In the 17th century, this tomb was destroyed. During the reign of Karim Khan Zand, a mausoleum of two floors of brick and plaster, flanked by two rooms, was built.^[2] The current building was constructed between 1950 and 1952^[3] to a design by the architect Mohsen Foroughi and was inspired by the Chehel Sotoun with a fusion of old and new architectural elements. Around the tomb on the walls are seven verses of Saadi's poems.

The new building

The new building was constructed in Persian style. It includes eight brown stone pillars at the front of the tomb. The main structure is made of white stones and tiles. The building of the tomb of Saadi Shirazi has a cubic shape from the outside, and from the inside, it is in the form of an octagon with walls of marble and an azure arch. The tomb of Saadi Shirazi has an area of approximately 257 square metres (2,770 sq ft). The main building of the tomb includes two terraces that are perpendicular to each other. The tomb of Saadi is located at the angle of these terraces, inside an octagonal building on top of which stands an amazing azure blue dome.^[4]

Over the tomb, there is an arch made of turquoise tiles. The stones of the bases of the structure are black, and the pillars and the front part of the terrace are made of red granite stone. The facade of the tomb is made of travertine stone, and the interior is made of marble.^[5]

Water features

A fish pond lies on the left side of the tomb of Saadi Shirazi. It has an octagonal shape and an area of approximately 30.25 square metres (325.6 sq ft). At the front of the terrace, there is a pond where visitors often throw coins. Approxmiately 10 metres (33 ft) below the tomb of Saadi Shirazi, there is an aqueduct whose water contains sulphurous material and also quicksilver.^[6]

Gallery

• 
  Exterior in 2016
• 
  Terraces in 2016
• 
  Tomb in 2016
• 
  Alcove in 2008
• 
  Exterior at night
• 
  c. 1840
• 
  c. 1840, by Eugène Flandin

See also

• Islam portal
• Iran portal

• History of Persian domes
• List of mausoleums in Iran

Notes

1. Other variants include the Sadi Tomb, the Tomb of Sa'di-e-Shirazi, and the Mausoleum of Sa'di.