The Chihil Sutun Palace of Isfashan

Lesson Objective: Students will investigate the architectural plan of a palace of the Safavid dynasty; they will also examine some of the palace wall paintings

Homira Pashai 2-22-2020

Studies on Persianate Manuscripts, Arts, and Literature

Courtesy of Chihil Sutun (Chehel Soutoun) Palace, Isfahan

Chihil Sutun (chehel Sotoun) of Isfihan (Esfahan) is a palace completed in 1674 C.E. by Shah Abbas II. The palace was the site of Persian New Year festivities and receptions for dignitaries and foreign ambassadors. What makes the palace more glamorous is the wall paintings depicting floral and geometrical motifs, scenes of festivals, battalions, literary themes, standing figures in European costumes, and receptions of foreign envoys.

Palace’s Southern povilion is named “Charshanbe-i Suri” since one of the paintings on its wall elaborates on a festivity with fire in the background. Some scholars highlighted that the scene is just the celebration of “Charshanbe-i Suri,” but others identify the scene as the “immolation of a Hindu princess.”

The Chihil Sutun is a testimony to the glorious reign of the Safavids when the court was a place for international politics, festive gatherings, and cross-cultural understandings. Depictions of Armenians and Europeans among the wall paintings of the audience hall of Chihil Sutun underscore the favorable attitude of the king toward Christian and European subjects.

Look at the plan of the audience hall and identify the spaces based on the picture.

In detail, draw a plan of your favorite place and point out all the spaces you created for the class. This plan can vary from an art exhibit gallery, a museum, a theater, a music studio, a restaurant, a bakery, a stable, a palace, or a house. Explain to the class why you chose the specific plan and what you like most.

You can be creative in drawing a dining hall, exhibition hall, hotel entrance, restaurant, castle, theater, etc. What kind of decorations or entertainment do you add to your plan to entice your visitors?

“Battle of Shah Isma’il and the Uzbeks”

“Abbas II Meeting Mughal Ambassador”

“A Scene Recognized as Immolation of an Indian Prince or A Scene of Charshanbe-i Suri”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tATL0mKQdYA

Terms:

Audience hall

Immolation

Charshanbe-i Suri

Geometrical motifs

Literary themes

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