Qavām-ed-Din Shirāzi: The Architect of Legend

Qavām-ed-Din Shirāzi, the master of architecture, died on the first of Sha’ban, 842 AH after years of activitiy. He was the greatest architect of his time who seemingly was merely at the service of distinguished authorities of Timurids’ court such as Shahrokh, Gowharshād, and Khaje Ghiyās-ed-Din Pir-Ahmad Khāfi. His significance was so evident that his name has been mentioned in several important texts close to his time, including Joghrāfiyā by Hafez Abru, Mojmal-e Fasihi by Fasih Khāfi, Matlaʿ-e Saʿdayn by ʿAbdolrazzāq Samarqandi, Rowzat-os-Safā by Mirkhānd, Tazkere-ye Majāles-on-nafā’es by Amir ʿAli-Shir Navāyi, Tazkerat-osh-shoʿarā by Dowlatshāh Samarqandi, and Habib-ossiyar by Khāndmir. It is noteworthy that only certain legendary and mythical Iranian architects such as Semnār/ Senemār and Shide have enjoyed the chance of presence in Persian texts. The writings of Qavām-ed-Din’s contemporary authors about him and the words of those who livede after him look like a legend. It is assumed that a legendary image of Qavām-ed- Din and his work was created among his fellow citizens and the writers were the narrators of this legend. Qavām-ed- Din used to be the legendary architect during the splendour of Iranian architecture in the reign of Timurids.