Saadi was one of Iran’s greatest poet and is recognized for the quality of his writings and for the depth of his social and moral thoughts. After his death in 1292, he was buried here at his native town Shiraz and later a mausoleum was built to honour him.
Another famous Iranian poet is Hafez. who lauded the joys of love, wine and targets religious hypocrisy. The pavilion was erected over his tomb in memorial to his death in 1390. Both the mausoleum of Saadi and Hafez are major tourist attraction of Shiraz.
First, we went to the Mausoleum of Saadi.
The Mausoleum of Saadi is located inside a big garden.
The mausoleum of Saadi was built in the 13th century after his death, however the tomb was destroyed and the current mausoleum was built between 1950 and 1952.
Abou Mohammad Sharaf-o-ddin Mosieheben-e Abdulla or better known as his pen name Saadi best known works are Boostan and Golestan.
A family photo.
From the outside, the building looks square. The mausoleum is actually shaped octagonal.
The decorative tiles at the entrance.
Both Iranians and foreigners pay a visit to this mausoleum.
The marble tomb of Saadi
The ceiling with a big lamp in the middle of the mausoleum.
Around the tomb of the mausoleum’s walls are seven verses of Saadi’s poem.
One of the famous quotes from Saadi’s works are:-
"Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you’ve no sympathy for human pain,
The name if human you cannot retain.”
A covered walkway was constructed to connect to another tomb of a Shirazi poet, Shourideh Shirazi.
A description of Shourideh Shirazi.
Shourideh’s tomb in the middle and on the right his second son, also a poet.
Some souvenirs sold in the compound.
Time to make a move.
Interesting looking painting during our trip.
Next, the Mausoleum of Hafez.
The garden surrounding the Mausoleum of Hafez.
Just beside Hafez’s tomb is the memorial hall with excerpts from his poems on the facade.
In fact the memorial was originally built in 1773 with only 4 columns. In 1935, the memorial hall was extensively expanded to add 16 columns thus creating a long verandah.
Along with the extended memorial hall, the open pavilion over the tomb of Hafez was competed in 1935.
Eight columns encircling the tomb each ten meters tall supports a copper dome.
A marble slab engraved with excerpts from Hafez’s poetry over his grave.
Colourful mosaics decorates the ceiling.
Hafez was born, lived and died in Shiraz. He was a prominent poet and held a position as the court poet.
With an area of over 19,000m², this place is big as it also serves as a cemetery for many other people.
Mausoleums of other people at the compound.
Even though I’m not a fan of poetry, the architecture of the mausoleums will attract ordinary visitors like me.
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