The Architectural Style of Shirvan

The stylistics of Iranian architecture is still problematic.The architectural style of Shirvan had been one of the Islamic types in the north of Azerbaijan which has not yet been well presented in Iran. In accordance with sociocultural policies of the former USSR, furthermore,Islamic architecture in the Republic of Azerbaijan has been analyzed neither together with Iranian art and history nor Islamic culture. Surveying the architectural relics of the Shirvan Style, which is coined as the architectural style of Nizami of Ganja era, presents impressions of the both Sassanid patterns and style of Islamic architecture from Khorasan. By this article, the author presents three typical features of the Shirvan Style: 1. Usage of cut stone masonry to make interior and exterior façades up; which is derived from Sassanid architecture.2. Designing of plain and rectangular plans without Iwan and arcades; this is derived from square dome fire temples of Sassanid era.3. Attaching a high minaret closed to mosque or hospice (abbey) which is derived from the Islamic style of architecture in Sel j uki d Khor asan.