Kharraqan Towers

Kharraqan Towers
برج‌های خرقان
The Kharāghān twin towers
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusMausoleum
StatusActive
Location
LocationHesar-e Valiyeasr, Qazvin province, Iran
Location of the mausoleum in Iran
Interactive map of Kharraqan Towers
Coordinates35°50′24.5″N 49°00′32.2″E / 35.840139°N 49.008944°E / 35.840139; 49.008944
Architecture
ArchitectMuhammad bin Makki al-Zanjani
TypeIslamic architecture
StyleSeljuk
Completed
  • 1067 CE (1st tower)
  • 1093 CE (2nd tower)
Specifications
Width4 m (13 ft)
Height (max)13 m (43 ft)
MaterialsBricks

The Kharraqan Towers (Persian: برج‌های خرقان, romanizedBorj ha-ye Kharraqan), also known as the Kharrakhan or the Domes of Kharaghan, are a pair of mausolea built in 1067 and 1093 CE, in the Kharraqan region, in Hesar-e Valiyeasr, near Qazvin, Qazvin province, northern Iran. They are notable for being an early example of a geometric ornament, an early example of double domes, and one of the earlier tomb towers that appeared in the Seljuk era during the 11th century.

The octagonal brick structures stand 13 metres (43 ft) tall, and each side is 4 metres (13 ft) wide. The surface of both mausolea demonstrate extensive use of geometry. The interior walls of the older mausoleum are decorated with paintings of various subjects. The eastern tower dates from 1067–68, and the western tower dates from 1093.