PERSIAN ARCHITECTURE
ANSWER KEY
1. Term: Hall of Hundred Columns
Definition: Xerxes throne room. Largest roofed space in the palace. Mostly made out of stone. Stone columns
supported wooden roof beams rested on the unique double-headed capitals carved in the form of bulls and lions.
2. Term: Gate of All Nations (Gate of All Lands)
Definition: Similar to Egyptian gates; has a tri-lingual inscription on it proclaiming that Xerxes built it.
3. Term: Apadana Reliefs
Definition: Procession of foreign ambassadors bringing gifts (tribute) to the Persian king. They walk up the
stairs, just as their real-life counterparts would have done.
4. Term: Persepolis
Definition: It was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural
terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models.
5. Term: Mausoleum of Cyrus the Great
Description: The tomb of Cyrus is in the southern corner of the site, which was once the royal park of Pasargadae
and is built of yellowish-white limestone, from the Sivand mine. The tomb building has been resistant to natural
and unnatural factors for 2500 years and is still standing in Pasargad plain.
6. Term: Shah Mosque, Isfahan
Description: With its grand Iwan, majestic dome, and exquisite tilework, this mosque stands as a pinnacle of
Persian Islamic architecture. The courtyard's symmetrical layout and the use of calligraphy emphasize both
functionality and the beauty of worship.
7. Term: Persian Haft Rang Tiles (Seven-Coloured Tiles)
Definition: A highly decorative glazed tiles used to adorn the exteriors and interiors of both secular and religious
buildings. The tiles first came to prominence in the 15th century and artists frequently chose to decorate them
with painted designs showing plants, birds, people, and calligraphy.
8. Term: Mashrabiya
Definition: This feature of Persian architecture is a type of oriel window that is used to catch and cool the wind.
It is usually made of carved wood as well as latticework, and it is commonly found on upper floors of buildings.
9. Term: Ali Qapu
Description: An imperial palace in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the western side of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square,
opposite to the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and had been originally designed as a vast portal entrance to the grand
palace which stretched from the Naqsh-e Jahan Square to the Chahar Baq Boulevard.
10. Term: Persian Blue
Description: A particular range of blue has always been used in Iranian handicrafts and architecture, from
antiquity to post-Islamic history, can be found in pottery, architecture, and enamelling.
11. Term: Chehel Sotoun
Definition: A palace built by Shah Abbas II of the Safavid dynasty to receive and entertain guests. Its name
means 40 columns, referring to its 20 columns by the entrance, which seems to double when reflected on the
water surface of the front pool.
