Yazd Province

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yazd (Persian: یزد) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the centre of the country, and its center is Yazd.

The province has an area of 73,467 km², and according to the most recent divisions of the country, is divided into seven townships namely: Maybod, Mehreez, Taft, Ardakan, Bafq, Abar Kooh and Yazd, the capital. According to the 1996 census, Yazd province had a population of about 750,769, of which 75.1% were urban residents while 24.9% resided in rural areas. In 2006, Yazd had an estimated population of 1,033,291.[1] The city of Yazd is the economic and administrative capital of the province and therefore the most heavily populated.

The Zoroastrian temple of Yazd.

1 People
2 History and historical attractions
- 2.1 Wind Towers of Yazd
- 2.2 Masjed-e Jame (Jame Mosque, 14th century)
3 Climate
4 Higher education
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] People

The population of Yazd is predominantly Persian, most of whom are Shi'a Muslims. There are also small Zoroastrian communities. The city of Yazd’s first mention in historic records predate it back to around 3000 years B.C. when it was related to by the name of Ysatis, and was then part of the domain of Medes, an ancient empire of Iran. Excavations of Gharbal Biz remaining from the Achaemenid period are another example of the antiquity of Yazd.[2]

Zoroastrians have traditionally been populous in Yazd. Even now, roughly ten percent of the town's population accoding to some estimates adhere to this ancient religion, and though their Atashkadeh (Fire Temple) was turned into a mosques after the Islamic Conquest of Persia, a dignified new fire temple was inaugurated thirteen hundred years later.

[edit] History and historical attractions

The 800 year old Masjed-i Jame' mosque of Yazd has one of the tallest minarets among Persian mosques.

In the course of history due to its distance from important capitals and its harsh natural surrounding, Yazd remained immune to major troops' movements and destruction from wars, therefore it kept many of its traditions, city forms and architecture until recent times.

Yazd hails from an ancient history. As an example, Tehran University and Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization have teamed up with France's CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) to carry out archeological studies in Yazd province as part of a project aiming at preparing archeological plans of the area from the Mesolithic era.[3]

During the invasion of Genghis Khan in the early 13th century, Yazd became a safehaven and home for many artists, intellectuals, and scientists fleeing their war ravaged cities acorss Persia.

Yazd was visited by Marco Polo in 1272, who described it as a good and noble city and remarked its silk production industry. Isolated from any approach by a huge tract of monotonous desert, the vibrancy of Yard often comes as a surprise.

[edit] Wind Towers of Yazd

Although more often described as the entrance to a now non-existent bazaar, the chief function of this building known as a Tekyeh, and the square before it, was to host the Ta'ziyeh, a cycle of passion plays commemorating the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, which takes place once a year during the mourning month of Moharram. The site dates from the fifteenth century amid the efforts of its eponymous builder, Amir Jalal Al-Din Chakhmagh, governor of Yazd.

For a brief period, Yazd was the capital of Atabakan and Mozaffarid dynasties. During the Qajar Dynasty (18th Century A.D.) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.

Amidst the immense surrounding desert, Yazd retains elements of its old religion, traditions, and architecture, which is recognized by UNESCO for its architectural heritage[4]. In 2004, the Majles allocated funds to help restore historical sites in Yazd inorder to nominate Yazd as a Cultural Heritage city by UNESCO.[5]

A medieval citadel in Maybod, Yazd province.

[edit] Masjed-e Jame (Jame Mosque, 14th century)

The word Yazd means feast and worship. The city of Yazd has resisted the modern urbanization changes and has so far maintained its traditional structure. The geographical features of this region have prompted residents to develop special architectural styles. For this reason, in the older part of the city most houses are built of adobe and have domed roofs (gonbad). These materials serve as an excellent insulation preventing heat from passing through.

The existence of special ventilation structures, called Badgirs is a distinctive feature of the architecture of this city (A Badgir is a high structure on the roof under which, in the interior of the building, there is a small pool).

The Jame Mosque (Friday Mosque) crowned by a pair of minarets, the highest in Persia, the portal's facade is decorated from top to bottom in dazzling tile work, predominantly blue in colour. Within is a long arcaded courtyard where, behind a deep-set south-east iwan, is a sanctuary chamber (shabestan). This chamber, under a squat tiled dome, is exquisitely decorated with faience mosaic: its tall faience Mihrab, dated 1365CE, is one of the finest of its kind in existence.

A traditional pigeonhouse in Meybod, Yazd.

The Mosque was largely rebuilt between 1324CE and 1365CE, and is one of the outstanding 14th century buildings of Persia.

[edit] Climate

Being located beside the central mountains, far from the sea, adjacent to the kavir and in the shadow rainy region, Yazd has a climate which mostly resembles dry desert climate. Little rain along with high water evaporation, relatively low dampness, heat and great temperature changes are among the factors making this province, one of the driest parts of Iran. The only moderating climatic factor is elevation and hence, notably that of nearby Shirkuh (4000 meters).

[edit] Higher education

The University of Yazd was established in 1988. It has a noted college of Architecture specializing in traditional Persian Art and Architecture. Yazd and its nearby towns contain the following institutes of higher education: