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Coordinates: 32°38′12″N 51°41′00″E / 32.6368°N 51.6833°E / 32.6368; 51.6833
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{{Infobox bridge
[[File:Khaju Bridge, Isfahan 01.jpg|thumb|500 px|right|Khaju Bridge]]
|bridge_name = Khaju Bridge
|image = Khaju Bridje at night.jpg
|crosses = [[Zayanderud]]
|locale = [[Isfahan]], [[Iran]]
|designer =
|design = [[Arch bridge]]
|material = [[Rock (geology)|Stone]] and [[brick]]
|spans =
|mainspan =
|length =
|width =
|begin =
|complete = 1650
⚫
|coordinates = {{coord|32.6368|N|51.6833|E|region:IR-04_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}
|extra = {{maplink |type=point |coord={{coord|32.6368|51.6833}} |zoom=15 |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-width=250 |frame-align=center}}
}}
The '''Khaju Bridge''' ({{lang-fa|پل خواجو}}, {{transl|fa|Pol-e Xāju}}) is one of the historical [[bridge]]s on the [[Zayanderud]], the largest river of the [[Iranian Plateau]], in [[Isfahan]], [[Iran]]. Serving as both a bridge and a [[weir]], it links the Khaju quarter on the north bank with the [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] quarter across the Zayanderud. It also served a primary function as a building<ref>{{cite book |title=Developments in Structural Form |first=Rowland J. |last=Mainstone |publisher=Architectural Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7fpSAAAAMAAJ |year=1998 |page=261}}</ref> and a place for public meetings.<ref name="andrew"/> It has been described as the city's finest bridge.<ref name="andrew">{{cite book |title=Iran |first1=Andrew |last1=Burke |first2=Mark |last2=Elliot |publisher=Lonely Planet |year=2008 |page=243 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gEca_4iSNCUC}}</ref>


⚫
The mausoleum of [[Arthur Upham Pope|Arthur Pope]] and his wife Phyllis Ackerman is situated nearby.
'''Khaju Bridge''' ({{lang-fa|'''پل خواجو '''}} ''Pol-e Khāju'') is a bridge in the province of [[Isfahan]], [[Iran]], which has been described as the finest in the province.<ref name=andrew>{{cite book|title=Iran|author= Andrew Burke, Mark Elliot|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2008|pages=243|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gEca_4iSNCUC&pg=PA243&dq=khaju+bridge&hl=en&ei=kNmHTciGA4GugQe6yvy3DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=khaju%20bridge&f=false}}</ref> It was built by the [[Persian people|Persian]] [[Safavid dynasty|Safavid]] king, [[Shah Abbas II]] around 1650, on the foundations of an older bridge. Serving as both a bridge, and a dam (or a [[weir]]), it links the Khaju quarter on the north bank with the [[Zoroastrian]] quarter across the [[Zayandeh River]]. Although architecturally functioning as a bridge and a [[weir]], it also served a primary function as a building<ref>{{cite book|title=Developments in structural form|author= Rowland J. Mainstone|publisher=Architectural Press|year=2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbdnVEd5nukC&pg=PT268&dq=khaju+bridge&hl=en&ei=kNmHTciGA4GugQe6yvy3DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=khaju%20bridge&f=false}}</ref> and a place for public meetings.<ref name=andrew/> This structure was originally decorated with artistic tilework and paintings, and served as a teahouse. In the center of the structure, a pavilion exists inside which Shah Abbas would have once sat, admiring the view.<ref name=andrew/> Today, remnants of a stone seat is all that is left of the king's chair. This bridge is one of the finest examples of [[Persian architecture]] at the height of [[Safavid]] cultural influence in Iran. In words of [[Arthur Pope|Upham Pope]] and [[Jean Chardin]], Khaju bridge is "the culminating monument of Persian bridge architecture and one of the most interesting bridges extant...where the whole has rhythm and dignity and combines in the happiest consistency, utility, beauty, and recreation."<ref>{{cite book|title=A Journey to Persia: Jean Chardin's portrait of a seventeenth-century empire|author=Sir John Chardin, Ronald W. Ferrier|publisher=I.B.Tauris|year=1996|pages=149|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5CLkDgmVs1QC&pg=PA149&dq=khaju+bridge&hl=en&ei=kNmHTciGA4GugQe6yvy3DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=khaju%20bridge&f=false}}</ref>


==Specifications==
==History==
The Khaju Bridge was built around 1650, under the reign of [[Abbas II of Persia|Abbas II]], the seventh [[Safavid dynasty|Safavid]] king ([[shah]]) of Iran, on the foundations of an older bridge. The existing inscriptions suggest that the bridge was repaired in 1873. There is a pavilion located in the center of the structure, inside which Abbas II would have once sat, admiring the view.<ref name=andrew/> Today, remnants of a stone seat is all that is left of the king's chair.
⚫
Khaju Bridge has 23 arches and is 133 metres long and 12 metres wide. The pass way of the bridge is 7.5 meters wide, made of bricks and stones with 21 larger and 26 smaller inlet and outlet channels. The pieces of stone used in this bridge are over 2 meters long and the distance between every channel and the ceiling base is 21 meters. The existing inscriptions suggest that the bridge was repaired in 1873.


In words of [[Arthur Upham Pope|Arthur Pope]] and [[Jean Chardin]], Khaju is "the culminating monument of Persian bridge architecture and one of the most interesting bridges extant ... where the whole has rhythm and dignity and combines in the happiest consistency, utility, beauty, and recreation."<ref>{{cite book |title=A Journey to Persia: Jean Chardin's portrait of a seventeenth-century empire |author=Sir John Chardin, Ronald W. Ferrier |publisher=I.B.Tauris |year=1996 |pages=149 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5CLkDgmVs1QC}}</ref>
Khaju is one of the bridges that regulate the water flow in the river because there are [[sluice gate]]s under the archways over the river. When the sluice gates are closed, the water level behind the bridge is raised to facilitate the irrigation of the many gardens along the river upstream of this bridge.


==Structure==
⚫
On the upper level of the bridge, the main central aisle was utilized by horses and carts and the vaulted paths on either side by pedestrians. Octagonal [[pavilions]] in the center of the bridge on both the down and the upstream sides provide vantage points for the remarkable views. The lower level of the bridge may be accessed by pedestrians and remains a popular shady place for relaxing.
⚫
The bridge has 23 arches, and is 133 meters long and 12 meters wide. It was originally decorated with [[tile art|tilework]] and paintings, and served as a [[teahouse]]. The pass way of the bridge is made of bricks and stones with 21 larger and 26 smaller inlet and outlet channels, and is 7.5 meters wide. The pieces of stone used in the bridge are over 2 meters long, and the distance between every channel and the ceiling base is 21 meters.


⚫
There are several [[sluice gate]]s under the archways, through which the water flow of the [[Zayanderud]] is regulated. When the sluice gates are closed, the water level behind the bridge is raised to facilitate the irrigation of the many gardens along the river upstream of the bridge. On the upper level of the bridge, the main central aisle was utilized by horses and carts, and the vaulted paths on either side by pedestrians. Octagonal [[pavilion]]s in the center of the bridge on both the down and the upstream sides provide vantage points for the remarkable views. The lower level of the bridge may be accessed by pedestrians and remains a popular shady place for relaxing.
⚫
Iranian architects have raised concerns about damage inflicted on the bridge during recent "improvement program" renovations, citing, among other problems, the destruction of the original stepped base of the bridge, alterations made to the riverbed, and the removal from the bridge of stone blocks with Safavid-era inscriptions.<ref>{{cite web|title=
⚫
Critiquing Recent Renovations of the Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran|author=Mehrdad Parsipour|publisher=Green Prophet|date=July 20, 2010|accessdate=March 21, 2011|url=http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/07/20/24580/the-recent-renovations-of-khajoo-bridge-in-esfahan-and-criticisms/}}</ref><ref>"Restoration" damages at Pole Khaju in Isfahan http://kavehfarrokh.com/articles/endangered-archaeological-sites/restoration-damages-at-pole-khaju-in-isfahan/</ref>


⚫
Iranian architects have raised concerns about damage inflicted on the bridge during recent "improvement program" renovations, citing, among other problems, the destruction of the original stepped base of the bridge, the alterations made to the riverbed, and the removal of the Safavid inscribed stone blocks from the bridge.<ref>{{cite web |title=
⚫
Mausoleum of [[Arthur Upham Pope|Arthur Pope]] and his wife Phyllis Ackerman is situated nearby.
⚫
Critiquing Recent Renovations of the Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran |first=Mehrdad |last=Parsipour |publisher=Green Prophet |date=20 July 2010 |access-date=21 March 2011 |url=http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/07/20/24580/the-recent-renovations-of-khajoo-bridge-in-esfahan-and-criticisms}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Restoration' damages at Pole Khaju in Isfahan |url=http://kavehfarrokh.com/articles/endangered-archaeological-sites/restoration-damages-at-pole-khaju-in-isfahan |first=Kaveh |last=Farrokh}}</ref>


==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="6" widths="140px" heights="140px">
<gallery mode=packed>
Isfahan R04.jpg|The bridge in early 20th century
Khaju Bridge, Isfahan 04.jpg|Central part of the bridge
Isfahan R04.jpg|The Khaju Bridge in the early 20th century.
جاذبه های گردشگری تاریخی شهر زیبای اصفهان- پل خواجوی اصفهان.jpg|A view of the Khaju Bridge in April 2010.
⚫
Khajoo-Bridge.JPG|Panoramic view of the bridge at night
Khaju Bridge.JPG|View on the bridge at night
Iran - Isfahan - Khajoo Bridge.jpg|A view of the Khaju Bridge in January 2010.
Under bridge.JPG|Arches under the Khaju Bridge
Isfahan - Khajoo Bridge ^ Stony Lion - panoramio.jpg|One of the two stone lions of the Khaju Bridge.
Under bridge.JPG|Arches under the Khaju Bridge.
View from Khaju Bridge.jpg|A view onto the river
Pol e Khajoo - panoramio.jpg|A view seen from within the Khaju Bridge.
Khaju Bridge - Isfahan-Iran-ninara09.jpg|A view of the Khaju Bridge in April 2012.
Dawn of the khajoo bridge 1.jpg|A view of the bridge and the [[Zayanderud]] at sunset.
Khaju Bridge.JPG|A view of the walkway on the Khaju Bridge at night.
⚫
Khaju - Bridge.jpg|A wide view of the Khaju Bridge at night.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Si-o-se-pol]], another such bridge on the same river
⚫
* [[Persian architecture]]
* [[Putra Bridge]]
* [[Putra Bridge]], a bridge in Malaysia that was inspired by Khaju
* [[Safavid Dynasty]]
* [[Si-o-seh pol]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
⚫
* Blair, Sheila S. and Jonathan M. Bloom. 1994. The Art and Architecture of Islam. New Haven: Yale University Press.

⚫
* Michell, George. 1978. Architecture of the Islamic World. London: Thames and Hudson.
==Further reading==
{{Reflist}}
⚫
* {{cite book |last1=Blair |first1=Sheila S. |first2=Jonathan M. |last2=Bloom |year=1994 |title=The Art and Architecture of Islam |location=New Haven |publisher=Yale University Press}}
⚫
* {{cite book |last=Michell |first=George |year=1978 |title=Architecture of the Islamic World |location=London |publisher=Thames and Hudson}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.tishineh.com/touritem/815-12/Khaju More Picture، Tishineh]
{{Commons category|Khaju Bridge}}
{{Commons category|Khaju Bridge}}


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{{Isfahan Province}}
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{{coord|32|38|12|N|51|41|00|E|dim:1000_scale:10000_region:IR_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}
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{{Esfahan Province}}
{{Iranian Architecture}}
{{Iranian Architecture}}


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[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1650]]
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[[Category:Bridges completed in the 17th century]]
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[[Category:Safavid architecture]]
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[[Category:Bridges in Iran]]
[[Category:Bridges in Isfahan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Isfahan]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Isfahan]]
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[[Category:Bridges in Isfahan]]
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[[Category:Bridges in Iran]]
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[[Category:Bridges completed in the 17th century]]
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[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1650]]
[[Category:1650 establishments in Iran]]
[[Category:1650 establishments in Iran]]
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[[Category:Safavid architecture]]

Revision as of 18:10, 26 July 2018

Khaju Bridge
Coordinates32°38′12″N 51°41′00″E / 32.6368°N 51.6833°E / 32.6368; 51.6833
CrossesZayanderud
LocaleIsfahan, Iran
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialStone and brick
History
Construction end1650
Map
Location
Map

The Khaju Bridge (Template:Lang-fa, Pol-e Xāju) is one of the historical bridges on the Zayanderud, the largest river of the Iranian Plateau, in Isfahan, Iran. Serving as both a bridge and a weir, it links the Khaju quarter on the north bank with the Zoroastrian quarter across the Zayanderud. It also served a primary function as a building[1] and a place for public meetings.[2] It has been described as the city's finest bridge.[2]

The mausoleum of Arthur Pope and his wife Phyllis Ackerman is situated nearby.

History

The Khaju Bridge was built around 1650, under the reign of Abbas II, the seventh Safavid king (shah) of Iran, on the foundations of an older bridge. The existing inscriptions suggest that the bridge was repaired in 1873. There is a pavilion located in the center of the structure, inside which Abbas II would have once sat, admiring the view.[2] Today, remnants of a stone seat is all that is left of the king's chair.

In words of Arthur Pope and Jean Chardin, Khaju is "the culminating monument of Persian bridge architecture and one of the most interesting bridges extant ... where the whole has rhythm and dignity and combines in the happiest consistency, utility, beauty, and recreation."[3]

Structure

The bridge has 23 arches, and is 133 meters long and 12 meters wide. It was originally decorated with tilework and paintings, and served as a teahouse. The pass way of the bridge is made of bricks and stones with 21 larger and 26 smaller inlet and outlet channels, and is 7.5 meters wide. The pieces of stone used in the bridge are over 2 meters long, and the distance between every channel and the ceiling base is 21 meters.

There are several sluice gates under the archways, through which the water flow of the Zayanderud is regulated. When the sluice gates are closed, the water level behind the bridge is raised to facilitate the irrigation of the many gardens along the river upstream of the bridge. On the upper level of the bridge, the main central aisle was utilized by horses and carts, and the vaulted paths on either side by pedestrians. Octagonal pavilions in the center of the bridge on both the down and the upstream sides provide vantage points for the remarkable views. The lower level of the bridge may be accessed by pedestrians and remains a popular shady place for relaxing.

Iranian architects have raised concerns about damage inflicted on the bridge during recent "improvement program" renovations, citing, among other problems, the destruction of the original stepped base of the bridge, the alterations made to the riverbed, and the removal of the Safavid inscribed stone blocks from the bridge.[4][5]

  • The Khaju Bridge in the early 20th century.
    The Khaju Bridge in the early 20th century.
  • A view of the Khaju Bridge in April 2010.
    A view of the Khaju Bridge in April 2010.
  • A view of the Khaju Bridge in January 2010.
    A view of the Khaju Bridge in January 2010.
  • One of the two stone lions of the Khaju Bridge.
    One of the two stone lions of the Khaju Bridge.
  • Arches under the Khaju Bridge.
    Arches under the Khaju Bridge.
  • A view seen from within the Khaju Bridge.
    A view seen from within the Khaju Bridge.
  • A view of the Khaju Bridge in April 2012.
    A view of the Khaju Bridge in April 2012.
  • A view of the bridge and the Zayanderud at sunset.
    A view of the bridge and the Zayanderud at sunset.
  • A view of the walkway on the Khaju Bridge at night.
    A view of the walkway on the Khaju Bridge at night.
  • A wide view of the Khaju Bridge at night.
    A wide view of the Khaju Bridge at night.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mainstone, Rowland J. (1998). Developments in Structural Form. Architectural Press. p. 261.
  2. ^ a b c Burke, Andrew; Elliot, Mark (2008). Iran. Lonely Planet. p. 243.
  3. ^ Sir John Chardin, Ronald W. Ferrier (1996). A Journey to Persia: Jean Chardin's portrait of a seventeenth-century empire. I.B.Tauris. p. 149.
  4. ^ Parsipour, Mehrdad (20 July 2010). "Critiquing Recent Renovations of the Khaju Bridge in Esfahan, Iran". Green Prophet. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  5. ^ Farrokh, Kaveh. "'Restoration' damages at Pole Khaju in Isfahan".

Further reading

  • Blair, Sheila S.; Bloom, Jonathan M. (1994). The Art and Architecture of Islam. New Haven: Yale University Press.
  • Michell, George (1978). Architecture of the Islamic World. London: Thames and Hudson.
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