جواد نیستانی

The structure of the form and content of the gravestones of the Islamic era are significantly influenced by climatic, historical and cultural factors. The gravestones are divided into three main groups, raised, horizontal and combined. Box-shaped tombstones are also one of the species of horizontal gravestones that have different types. The lack of typology and accurate classification of this type of tombstone has caused turbulence in naming works among researchers. In addition, by studying the style of the common and different elements in the structure of the shape and content of the wooden cenotaphs, a precise typology of the tombstones can be presented. Identifying and explaining the common and different aspects of the structure of the form and content in the works mentioned and describing them can be a source for many studies in this field and reduce conflicting ideas among researchers.

The Zoroastrian clergy class was one of the most important institutions and classes of the Sasanian era, with clerics being considered themselves the right to intervene in all aspects of people’s lives, from the lowest  to the highest levels of the society. Despite this, they are not well-known enough in the pages of history and we don’t know much about them. This article is based on library documents and the research method applied in the course of study is descriptive-analytical. The paper is in two parts in order to clarify the situation of some of the important existing classes. The first part challenges the belief that the head of the Zoroastrian clergy had the right to depose kings or for that matter had the final authority in approving the credential of the new heir to the throne. The second part, looking at the relationship between Zoroastrian clergies and the growing number of Christian missionaries, shows that the Zoroastrian religion - which was also the official religion of the empire - were toys in the hamds of politicians in the Sasanian era. Meanwhile, the clerics and especially their head sometimes gave up on religious  concerns in order to protect the interests of the privileged class of the society, of which he was a part.

Residential architecture as a living space for family members has been influenced by climatic and geographical conditions. Accordingly, some methods for designing climate-responsive architecture can be seen in historic houses of Iran, such as Ashtian. Therefore, this research aims to identify the influence of climate and geography on Qajarid residential architecture in Ashtian and to elucidate the strategies and measures employed by architects to mitigate negative effects and increase beneficial climatic and geographical influences. Questions are: What is the effect of climate and geographical features on the location and spatial distribution of Qajarid houses in the Ashtian? How did climatic and geographical factors affect the plan, form, and architectural features of Qajarid houses in Ashtian? Two hypotheses are: the topography of Ashtian, watercourses, and soil type have played a role in locating houses. Furthermore, the plan, form, and architectural features of the houses were influenced by climatic factors such as wind, angle and amount of sunlight, and temperature. ArcGIS, Google Earth, WRPLOT design software, AutoCAD, and SPSS software were used for data analysis. Based on the results, the architects were started the construction of the building by considering climatic factors such as sunlight angle, prevailing wind, temperature, and humidity. They have paid attention to the type and color of materials, size of windows and doors and courtyards, and size and location of rooms. Also, based on the models obtained from WRPLOT software, the dominant wind of the region in two directions east-west and west-east was identified and its effect on architecture was explained. The results of the analysis in SPSS also show the correlation between “type of land and social class of people”, “type of land and soil with reservoirs”, and “maximum wind speed and the number of floors”.

Bulbous domes are among discontinuous double-shell domes and were built in Iran in the early nineth century A.H. Previous domes were shaped pointed and there was no bulge coming out beyond their base diameters. But in the Timurid period, dome profile was changed so that it began a return below the base of the arch, producing thereby a slight bulge. The main question is that what are the reasons for the changes in the appearance and structural elements between two shells after the initial formation of these domes in Central Asia and then their evolution in Iran. This research is written with the aim of finding the hidden aspects in the development of bulbous domes based on both historical documents, and architectural remains, and also examines the reasons of the changes created in these kinds of domes during four centuries in the context of cultural Iran. This study has a descriptive-analytical approach for exploring case studies, which are selected based on primary and secondary sources and also field research. The appearance changes of bulbous domes include removing flutes from the outer shell, adjusting the height of the drum and creating more bulge at the place where the outer shell joins the drum. In this article, the structural changes to improve the strength of the domes, the change in the number and proportions of the stiffeners to prevent the damage of the dome, as well as the shape and arrangement of the wooden struts to increase domes flexibility against seismic shocks, have been examined.

The migration of Alid’s Sadat to Tabaristan and Daylam that was the result of pressure of the Abbasid caliphs, along with the subsequent uprising of Yahya bin Abdullah in Daylam led to the spread of Zaydi Shia in northern Iran. Taking advantage of the geographical isolation of these provinces and their distance from the central states, Alids succeeded in forming the first Shi’ite state of the Islamic caliphate without the permission of the Abbasids by attracting the support of the Ispahbads and local people. Hassan ibn Zayd became the leader of this new government, i.e. the Alids of Tabaristan, after the victory in Amol. Amol, Sari and Gorgan, along with the Daylam, were among the areas ruled by the Alids for about 20 years. Hassan ibn Zayd declared the Zaydi Shiite as the official religion of his government. One of the tools used by the Alids to legitimize their rule was their coins. Since coins are amongst the most authentic and significant archaeological evidences, this study has attempted to answer the question of how the Alid themes used on the coins differed from those used on the standard coins of the Abbasids and how the new verses were multiplied? The studying of the coins and historical sources indicates that the Alid of the Tabaristan with the aim of proving their political and religious legitimacy, deliberately minted coins containing verses of the Holy Quran, which were capable of interpreting the position of the Ahl al-Bayt and Jihad against the Abbasid caliphate. Thus, despite the fact that the Alid coins were quite similar in design to the Abbasid coinages, they were quite distinct as they conveyed such concepts as the support of the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt, Shiite propaganda, and the opposition to the Abbasid caliphate.

Despite the importance, position and high role of the city of Hamadan in the political, economic, social and cultural developments of Iran during the Qajar era, targeted studies that determine the spatial organization and social structure of this city during that period have not been carried out, and there are many questions regarding the nature of the changes in the context. Its history remains unanswered. The current research seeks to answer questions about the transformation and development of the spatial structure of Hamedan city during the Qajar era by relying on written sources, architectural works and archaeological evidence. In order to achieve this goal, while using all the written sources related to this city in the mentioned period, the changes of the urban context and the structural characteristics of its spaces were determined and the factors affecting the growth and development of the city were determined during this period. The result of the research made it clear that due to its ancient background, special geographical location, benefiting from suitable environmental capabilities such as abundant water resources, and also due to its location on the path of important trade-pilgrimage routes in the Qajar period, Hamedan was one of the cities with social and economic importance and status. It has gained merit and accommodates a relatively large population and has attracted the attention of various social groups, especially merchants. Thus, suitable conditions have been created for the construction and discovery of numerous architectural works and monuments with different functions (defense facilities, residential neighborhoods, squares and plazas, markets and caravanserais, mosques, schools, baths, churches, etc.) and the urban space, especially in aspects The south and southeast have developed and expanded significantly.

So far, many researches have been done about clergy, their hierarchy, role and position in the Sassanid era and there is considerable information about them. Most of this awareness comes from textual evidence, including religious and non-religious books. The only archaeological evidence related to this important stratum of the society of this period is the seals, the seals impression and also the reliefs of Kartir. The reliefs of Kartir, due to their predominance of individuality, do not help us much in understanding the role and position of this class in the Sassanid period, but the second group, the seals and, seals impression discovered belonging to the Sassanid period, is a first-hand source for studying this important and influential group. Although many of these seals, in particular the seals that were discovered on the Takht-e Soleyman, were introduced by scholars as Magi seals, only a small part of them are based on inscriptions into this stratum. This means that only a small part of them clearly have the phrase magician or priest. In the present study, this seals have been studied and in fact, they have been selected from all the seals attributed to Magies. The motifs on these seals are very diverse and include almost all the motifs on the seals of the Sassanid period, including human, animal, plant, symbolic and monogram. In this study, with the iconographic approach, only animal motifs depicted on Magi's inscriptions are inscribed. For this purpose, after collecting the desired designs from various reports - which are generally in the form of catalogs and introducing seals - and providing a brief description, they were analyzed based on Zoroastrian texts. This article has reached the general conclusion that there are no exclusive and special motifs of Moghan in painting, and this group has followed the same taste and general aesthetics

Problem statement:

 Kufic inscriptions of Islamic architecture are considered the ancient era masterpieces of Iran and the Islamic world. Some of the Caravanseries in Razavi Khorasan province are counted among superb monuments in terms of decorations and architecture. However, the antiquity of some of them has not yet been well analyzed. Monumental inscriptions are often the most outstanding architectural elements that can direct the researchers through their endeavors from various viewpoints. Therefore, we deemed it critical to review the inscriptions under the study in terms of the scripts, objectives, various calligraphy types, etc., and determine their impacts on the identity of the monuments of interest.

This study tries to comparatively review the inscriptions, scan the obscure ones, and correct the erroneous scanning of some others. In this spirit, the authors focused their efforts on presenting advice on the recreation of the inscriptions found at Robat (a small fortification built along a frontier) Mahi excavation site. They determined some of the monuments’ ages through a critical approach toward inscriptions scanning by employing the surviving texts and shreds of evidence.

The present study was conducted through survey and archeological research methods. First, the inscriptions were recorded using the survey investigations. Then it was attempted to accurately identify the events of the past to further clarify the historical, political, and economic identities of the monuments under investigation through library research, verification of the firsthand resources, evidence gathered by the past photographers, and then through data analysis and classification, following the historical approach.

This study revealed that the writing structure of the Kufic inscriptions was based on the early Kufic scripts with diverse writing styles and that the artists have employed the decoration factor in conveying their message. The placement of the inscriptions in the predetermined spaces is in abundant congruity and harmony with their associated monuments. A reason for inscribing the scripts has been to serve religious purposes. Some advice was then made for age determination of Caravanseries of Ziarat, Mahi, and Sharaf sites after scanning and reading some of the inscriptions.

The Marashian government (Marashieh) had a Shia religion, they ruled from 760 to 906 AH in the Tabaristan region (now it is Mazandaran). During this period, the construction of mausoleums, shrines and elders of the Marashi government flourished. Unlike modern metal tombs most of them have wooden artifacts same as are in cenotaph mausoleum. These cenotaph mausoleums often have decorations with inscriptions. Fortunately, a number of them have been preserved due to the beliefs of Mazandaran region inhabitants, in accordance with the Shia religion. There is a need to say, that the Shiite religious rules of visiting tombs have caused the wooden artifacts preservation inside these buildings. Of course, another reason for the multiplicity of wooden cenotaph mausoleum is the abundance of wood as a raw material. Cenotaph mausoleums are often decorated with techniques such as gherh chini, wood carving with geometric and plant motifs, as well as inscriptions on them, the name of the builder, the date of construction and the financial patron. It seems that the use of these decorations on the Cenotaph mausoleum has been different, so that there are no similar technical and decorative examples. It seems that artists have imitated or imitated each other over the years by seeing each otherchr('39')s work, and in some of them, by adding individual creativity, has led to the emergence of new forms and decorative elements. Currently, many of these works have been destroyed or stolen for various reasons, which further highlights the need to address them. Based on this, the main question of the research can be posed in such a way that the 9th century AH wooden Cenotaph mausoleum in Mazandaran have undergone a transformation in the field of decorations and inscriptions. In this regard, the main goal is to study the process of change and developments in the construction of the 9th century AH wooden tomb in Mazandaran by relying on components such as: decorating techniques, framing type, composition, motifs and inscriptions. Based on the accessibility and historicity of the grave fund, 15 samples from different cities of the province are considered as the statistical population of the research. After explaining how the Marashian government emerged and describing the mausoleum construction motifs, and consequently the fund of wooden cenotaph mausoleum, each of the specimens is examined and all their characteristics are mentioned at the end of the table. As a result, it seems that the spread of the Shiite religion by the Marashians and the protection of religious and political figures in the form of the construction of the mausoleum tower can be one of the main reasons for the multiplicity of wooden cenotaph mausoleums. Collectively, in all cases studied, such as: general dimensions and form, framing, composition and type of drawing of plant and geometric patterns, structure of inscriptions, as well as technical items such as the shape of the engraving procedure, background texture and painting on wood we suppose that in the later examples of the works, in all cases, the carpenters achieved considerable maturity and perfection in the construction and decoration of the wooden Cenotaph mausoleum.

Our understanding of Sassanid feudalism, as a socio-political system which is based on relatively large landowners, have often been based on the writings of historians of the first centuries of Islam, and the archaeological data in this field have been very limited. This paper with purpose of recognition of socio-political system at Dargaz plain in the Sassanid era and understanding of the role of Bandian site in this system, attempts to provide some evidence about the Sassanid feudalism in the northeastern areas via the data obtained from archaeological field studies in the Dargaz plain. This paper is basic in terms of purpose, its methodology is based on field studies, and data collection method is documentary and literature-based. So to reach the purpose of this study, Bandian site and artifacts obtained from its excavations were analyzed and compared with some other Sassanid sites in the Dargaz plain. Accordingly, due to few and not so high-quality administrative evidence, lack of fortifications, higher quality and quantity of distribution of cultural materials in these sites, and the form and spatial location of these sites as a collection of integrated and compact architectural works that have been located among the agricultural nuclei independently from their surrounding historical contexts, this article presents three other Sassanid sites in Dargaz plain as parity sites to Bandian and the settlements of the second-class feudal lords of the Sassanid period (=Dehqān). 

The architecture under Mui’zzi and Khilji dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate was heavily influenced by the architecture of greater Khorasan. After investigating the appearance of arch and dome in the architecture of Mui'zzids and Khiljis and its possible connection with the political and social developments in the region, authors aim to find out what relation the Turkish sultans considered between Islam and their monumental architecture and why did they prefer Khorasani styles of building to native ones. The Muslim rulers’ behavior depended on two factors. The Persian cultural background and the mental confrontation with subaltern Indians. The first sultans of Delhi, despite nomadic Central Asian origin, had an opportunity to grow up among upper class members of Khorasani society. Collaborating of Persian-born statesmen also influenced their worldview. Therefore, popularity of Khorasani style in the Islamic architecture of India is just part of a bigger picture, which is the Persian culture determined in the Muslim society. On the other hand, avoidance and distrust of ancient religious Indian culture among Muslim ruling elite, was serious obstacle for any constructive cultural dialogue between two sides and making native Indians participated in high level decision-makings. As a result, the Sultanate was always looked for skilled people outside its borders, especially Persian and of the consequences were weak influence of rich native styles in the Islamic architecture in this period. In the present study, the cultural-historical approach is applied by collecting data through library researches and descriptive-analytical methods.

Bulbous domes are among discontinuous double-shell domes and has been developed in Iran since the middle of the 9th century AH/ the 15th century AD, concurrent with Timurid period. In this shape of domes, the dome profile was changed so that it began a return below the base of the arch, producing thereby a slight bulge that. The terminology for bulge in Iranian architecture is Avgun. Bulbous dome is considered as a part of Iranian architectural culture and the architects of this land have used this complex structure in a way that has been developing ever since its formation. It seems that this shape of dome requires a precise assessment in terms of design, mechanism of power transmission, and features of structural elements. The main purpose of this paper is to show the role of Avgun as an architectural structure in the bulbous domes, which supposed to have just an aesthetic function. In this study, the bulbous dome of Shah Mosque was simulated using Abaqus software. Then, its responses to the static and dynamic loads were tested. In order to show the Avgun role, this dome was compared with another dome, without Avgun, that possessed all similar architectural characteristics. The analysis revealed that Avgun is not just an aesthetic feature and that its prevalence had a structural reason too; So that Avgun reduces the amount of the dome's weight pressure on the dome chamber bases.

Defensive fortifications in different regions of Iran have been an effective factor in the survival ‎of residential centers and commercial routes. An investigation on defensive structures will ‎provide useful information on this kind of architecture. The study of remains of castles in the ‎Rey region has provided an important context for archaeological research. In the present ‎study, the Seljuk fortifications (Rashkān fortress, Gabri and Kāsni Castles) are introduced and ‎recognized as inner city castles. It aims at identifying and studying the Seljuk fortifications of ‎Rey, identifying the function of inner city fortifications, and comparing them with other samples ‎in neighboring regions in terms of characteristics. The data were gathered through field and ‎documentary studies while an analytical-historical method was applied in the course of the ‎research. Important questions intended to be addressed were: 1. what has been the role of ‎Seljuk fortifications of Rey in security provision of the region? 2. In which categories can the ‎Seljuk fortifications of Rey be classified in terms of structural characteristics and architectural ‎classification? Among the Seljuk fortifications of Rey, Kohandez (e.g. Rashkān Fortress) had ‎functioned as the political headquarters, and in other inner city castles, larger circular towers ‎have been usually located in four angles and interspersed with subsidiary towers. These types of ‎defensive architecture indicate the progress in the urban construction and security provision. ‎

The historical roads of Tārhān district in the southwest of Lorestan province are the important and high-traffic inter-regional roads. One of its most important roads is the road between Susiana and Kermanshah that has been very significant in the Sassanid era and early Islamic centuries. Many architectural works such as bridges, caravansary, and castell and cobblestone roads have been remains in this district from Sassanid and early Islamic centuries which have not been studied carefully yet. The goal of this research is the study of the communication capabilities of Tārhān district through the identification of the archaeological evidence of this road and buildings alongside it. The research approach is Historical-analytical, and data are collected by field and library method. To achieve these goals, this road was surveyed from Saimare city to Holeilan valley. This survey was identified a large part of the paved roads in mountainous areas, bridges, caravansary, some castles to protect roads and caravans, buildings with service-welfare functions, reservoir, two urban settlements, and an inscription from the Islamic era. The research results show that geography and climate of the region have caused to establish two paths in this region; spring route and autumn route. Each of them was used in one part of the year. In addition to connecting Khuzestan to the north and northwest of Iran, this road has caused the safety and flourishing of its settlements.

The eastern regions of Gilan are among the first areas where Shi'a religion was prevalent. In a number of religious monuments (boghe) of these areas, a painting on the plaster is available includes a description of the suffering of Imam Hussein (as) and his companions on Ashura day, the Mi'raj of Prophet with Donating a ring to a lion (the right of succession to Imam Ali (as)), Ali (as) is fighting the dragon, Imam Reza (AS) as the guarantor deer, Imam Kazim (AS) in the Harun Prison and....The dates available in some of these works indicate their belonging to the Qajar period. But it seems that the Appearance of the boghe wall paintings is related to the Safavid period and simultaneously with the spread of Shiite religion.In the present research, we seek to answer these questions: boghe wall paintings have been created to meet the needs of the community? What is the dispersion of boghe in different regions of Guilan? The purpose of this research is to identify the various aspects of Shi'a beliefs on the boghe wall paintings.

Ziz is one of the important cities that Geographers and Historians have described it in the early centuries and Mid-Islamic period. Ziz was a city of the Arrajan Khore, which is located in the north-east of it. According to historical sources, it was located on the route of Arrajan to Esfahan and this city has pulpit and main (jamea) Mosque. This research is aimed to specify the exact geographical location of Ziz city. The authors of this paper applied descriptive–analytical approach and analysis of field study and documented data (literary sources) attempts to answers regarding question about ancient sites or site including the remains of ziz city? The results of field study and archaeological surveys and analysis of historical texts show that the geographical location of Ziz city is more likely the modern Boyerahmad city located in the Ziz area on the "Ziz Nesah" site.

Azyvjān« is one of the less known cities of early Islamic era in western Iran. We are familiar with it through the reports of the early and middle Islamic centurie's geographers and also coins of this city belong to the fourth century AH. This city has been geographically in the »Masbazan« province in the west of Iran. Despite the studies and archaeological research carried out in this area, so far the city of Azyvjān and its location has been remained unknown in the present-day geography of the region. The purpose of this paper is investigating the geographical scope of the city of Azyvjān based on the knowledge of the historical resources and adaptation this data to archaeological evidence in order to achieve an understanding of the location of this city in the present-day geography of the region. The research approach is "historical" and the findings are gathered with documentary and field studies. The results show that the area which we should look for the city of Azyvjān is in the modern city of »Evān« in the north province of Elam and along the »Kangir « river. By comparing archaeological data with descriptions of historical texts about the city of Azyvjān and its location, the "Joey Zar" on the shores of Kangir River proposed for its location.

g but this information is very obscure about the Sassanid and Islamic early era, especially the effects of the socio-political structure on the city's location. In this research, in order to investigate the process of effective factors in the residence of this important city of Sassanid and early Islam, these concepts have been considered: authoritative historical texts including literary, political and social, Sassanid districts' surveys, and also review and analyze the views of contemporary scholars. In sum, and by examining these sources and materials,. In the late Sassanid period, the architecture of the city was strongly influenced by the military and defensive architecture, taking into account the rule of the climbers and the indirect attacks of the eastern invading tribesmen. Therefore, besides the settlements of the people, there were fortresses, seyed Abad and the city are ruined. With the arrival of Muslims in Iran, the Konarangiaan with peace Muslims, as a result of many of these castles and landscapes, continue to exist at the beginning of the Islamic era, so that in the third and fourth centuries, with the formation and operation of the city of Tabaran, the settlements The Konarangiaan in the Sassanid era are abandoned forever and the cities of Noghan and Tabaran are thriving

The hand-woven carpet because of the capacity of having the artistic, economic and conceptual aspects during the history, has found different functions besides its own consumable function. In Travelogues and historiographies was mentioned about the very splendor and luxury carpets that describing the glorious palaces. It indicates carpets gradually obtained a value more than consuming value. This research was conducted using the descriptive and analytical approach, based on library and documents data, with visual investigation on paintings from 15th to 18th centuries to finding the shape of the usage of carpets. Because that was not possible to investigate all European countries, it was emphasized on most important samples in terms of economy, commercial and artistic status. It seems by the spread of conspicuous consumption among high class people and afterwards among middle class families, arose a kind of symbolic value for hand- woven carpets. The research shows in capitalism and consumerism societies, carpets were a symbol of wealth and self-glorification for their owners. As during the 16 century and afterwards, their the consumable value as the floor covering,

After the time of Rudbar-e Alamut and Quhestan, the state of Qumes was the third district in which Nazari bases were extensively built. The Ismailis’ strategy in dominating a region was to capture the castles of that area and use those castles as a base to occupy the entire area. In line with this strategy, Nazaris led by Hasan-e Sabbah in 489 AH through the internal disputes between the Seljuqs, were able to win the castle of Gerdkouh and several other castles in the province of Qumes; they then gradually annexed the Qumes to their territory. Through collection of data from historical sources, utilization of an inferential analytical method, and reliance on the results of archaeological explorations of Ismaili’s castles of Qumes, this article presents the search for answers to the following questions: what are the reasons for the importance of Qumes to the Ismailis, and what is the role of Qumes in legitimizing the Nazari Ismailis’ presence in Iran? The results of this study indicated that Qumes was important for the Nazaris in two key ways: first, its location between the two strategic centers, Rudbar-e Alamut and Quhestan; and its functioning as a bridge between the two regions; secondly, the location of the Khorasan commercial highway leading out from this region. On one hand, these features were responsible for greater integration of the Ismailis’ realm, and on the other hand, the domination of the castles of this area, especially Gerdkouh, led to dominance of the Khorasan highway and its branches. All of these factors clearly contributed to the Nazaris’ political and economic power.

Two fundamental features of the Sasanian monumental art, i.e. the realism and positional tradition, have been represented in rock reliefs of that time in the best manner, so that they have created a semiotic cryptic system together. Concept mining of this semiotic system will be achieved by appealing to a context-oriented approach and benefiting from the contextual continuum (comparative picturology). What underlay this research was the optical illusion resulted from implementing the perspective in the rock relief of Bahram II in Naqsh-i Rustam, Fars. This issue, which has misled the researchers in characterology of some figures, is highly controversial. Why the Sasanian artist has sometimes intentionally implemented an unnecessary perspective? Results of the studies indicate that artistic tricks such as perspective have also played the role of a sign in these artworks; as this trick in Bahram II rock relief in Nadsh-i Rustam, without any perspective, is merely accompanied by a political implication based upon the right of crown prince. The objectified perspective in the rock relief of Shapur I in Naqsh-i Rajab, Fars province, is also the evidence indicating the priority in the right of crown prince position.

Manifestation of circular tower monuments of religious political persons in 8th and 9th Hejra can be seen in the formation of a particular style of memorial monuments within the boundaries of current countries of North and South of Aran river to Eastern Anatolia. This style of architecture is under the title of Azeri style around Aran – Azarbaijan. In this kind of style in setting the outer part of the monument and their artistic decoration of the surface, azure and turquois simple glazed bricks have been used. Recognition of Six monument tower-shaped in the South of Caucasus, Azerbaijan and Eastern Anatolia and its effects on other religious structures are the findings of this article. The most important factors in developing artistic style of funerary monuments of Aron and Azerbaijan in the same geographical area and political centrality are classified due to social and ethnic identity, cultural and tribal identity congruent. The style in question implies epistemological excellence and influential political religious people of the area in foundation and development of such a style and its similar application for political religious people of the Northern West of the Mazandaran Sea. In regard to this research, outstanding circular memorial monuments are manifested in the cemeteries of the ancestors of the Safavid kings in Ardebil. This article employs a historical cultural approach using descriptive-analytical method through filed study and library research. The aim of this article is to identify and asses the technical and artistic features of the circular monuments of the Aran and Azarbayejan area. The study of the influential factors such as geography, politics, cultural and social environment and homogeneous ethnic identity in creation of identical monuments are taken into account throughout the intended centuries up to the time they were no longer made coincides with the rise of the Safavids. The main question of this article is what factors were involved in the creation and development of identical circular tower monuments in the 8th and 9th Hejra in the area of the North West territories of Mazandaran Sea. Are the buried ones mainly religious or political figures? Which monuments of the area, in terms of art, can be considered outstanding?