Hamdollah Mostowfi’s mausoleum reflects Qazvin’s architectural heritage
The mausoleum of Hamdollah Mostowfi, the renowned historian of the Ilkhanid period, continues to hold a special place in the cultural memory of Qazvin residents. Owing to his popularity among the people of the city, a mausoleum was built over his grave after his death, which later became known as Gonbad-e Deraz (the Tall Dome).
Gonbad-e Deraz is a high conical brick structure topped with an azure blue dome. The exterior of the building is adorned with fine and delicate tilework, reflecting the elegance of traditional Iranian architecture. The mausoleum was originally part of the Ameneh Khatun Cemetery, which over time was separated; today, the complex covers an area of about 280 square meters, while the conical mausoleum itself occupies approximately 40 square meters.
The building consists of two stories. The lower level, or basement, is the original burial chamber and is not open to public visits. The upper story, a small and pleasant space, is decorated with simple turquoise tiles.
Architecturally, the dome is classified as a Rok Dome, a traditional Iranian style featuring a double-shell structure — melon-shaped on the interior and conical on the exterior. Another notable feature is the use of Se-Konj (Filpoosh), an architectural technique that skillfully transforms a square base into an octagonal, then multi-sided, and finally circular form to support the dome.
The mausoleum has two walnut-wood doors, one inscribed with verses from the Holy Qur’an and the other featuring Surah Al-Insan. These are not the original doors; they replaced the originals around 80 years ago. One of the original doors was destroyed in a fire, while the other is preserved at the National Museum of Iran.
An additional inscription in the courtyard provides a brief account of Hamdollah Mostowfi’s life and works. The courtyard also contains a historic household cistern, which is open to public viewing.
Gonbad-e Deraz is located on Taleqani Street (formerly Malek Abad Street), in Mostowfi Alley, in the city of Qazvin, and remains one of the city’s valuable historical monuments.