The Effect of Beliefs in Figuration Religious Buildings in Safavid Era in Esfahan (Case Study: Comparative Study of Hakim Mosque & Bethlehem Church)

Architecture and urban spaces undoubtedly bear the influence of religious and national beliefs within a country. This paper aims to investigate the impact of national and religious beliefs as principal factors in shaping religious buildings during the Safavid era. While some insights can be gleaned from historical sources, there is a lack of comparative analysis regarding the influence of different religions on architectural design. To address this gap, the study focuses on two religious buildings from the same period but representing distinct religious beliefs: the Bethlehem Church and the Hakim Mosque in Esfahan. By utilizing existing resources such as books, articles, and personal site observations, the study examines the role of "color," "ornamentation," and "light" as significant factors within the context of the "Esfahan School." Furthermore, it investigates the spatial positioning and hierarchy in these two comparative case studies. The objective of this paper is to explore how popular beliefs influence these architectural elements and investigate them through a comparative approach. Ultimately, the study aims to identify commonalities and differences in the underlying mental foundations of the creators behind these buildings, emphasizing the impressionability of architectural features resulting from national and religious beliefs.