Monar Jonban, the famous historical monument in Iran

All over Iran, Monar Jonbn is like no other as a historical  monument throughout the place. In Latin a building with two minarets means “Shaking Minarets”. What makes this building a wonder is in fact that the minarets on top of this building would shake side to side for up to a 10” to each side. It is a  landmark in the glamorous city of Isfahan.

The time of construction

Principally, this place is a holy place belonged to a mystic named Amo Abdollah-e Karladani. In 1316 AD, during the rule of Iljaito of Ilkhanian dynasty,  Menar Jonban was built and it is the best example of architectural arts. It is also worth to know that all the Shaking Minarets from all over the world were built in a 30-year era during Teimorian dynasty.

So far, no one exactly has exactly known why these minarets shake on the way they do, but the closest guess is that these movements are due to the Doppler Effect. Since the minarets are identical in every way, movement of one will cause the same effect on the other. Also, In terms of decorations, Menar Jonban has beautiful blue and turquoise tiles with four-star and multilateral shapes.

Decoration of the minerate

The building with two minarets is ornately decorated with blue tiles and multi-sided turquoise stones. Through a twirl stairway the way to the roof is found. You can find your way to the roof. It displays the style of Mongol masonry. But the building has also undergone through some restoration in the period of Safavid.

Not only the beauty of the structure, there is a motivating thing which makes it an amazing site. Once one minaret is shaken, the other one sways in harmony with the other unthinkably, vibrating the whole structure.  This all happens because of the ratio between the width and height of two minarets.

According to history, the building, home to Amu Abdollah Bin Mahmud Soqla’s grave, was built when Öljaitü was the monarch. The number engraved on the tombstone, 716, signifies the date of its construction. Higher elastic rates of  brick, and physical rules have been applied to erect the construction; it implies the profound knowledge of the designers and architects of that time.

Review #2

A landmark in the glamorous city of Isfahan, Monar Jonban, literally Shaking Minarets, is a touristic site for both domestic and non-domestic visitors. Left from the Timurid period, it was originally isolated from the undeveloped city in the past, located in a village named Karladan, but now it lies inside the expanded city.

The building with two minarets is ornately decorated with starred azure tiles and multi-sided turquoise stones. Through a spiral stairway, you can find your way to the roof. Its iwan showcases the Mongol’s style in masonry but the building has also undergone through some renovations in the Safavid period.

Apart from the beauty of the structure, there is an interesting thing which makes it a remarkable site. Once one minaret is shaken, the other one sways in unison inconceivably, vibrating the whole structure.  This all happens as a result of the ratio between the width of iwan and width and height of two minarets. The height of iwan is 10 meters and the minarets are 7.5 m tall. To notice the unperceivable shake, you can test with a glass of water. Lay it on the gravestone and see how water is waving when a minaret is swung.

According to history, the building, home to Amu Abdollah Bin Mahmud Soqla’s grave, was built when Öljaitü was the monarch. The number engraved on the tombstone, 716, signifies the date of its construction. Bricks with higher elasticity rates and physical rules have been used to erect the construction; it implies the profound knowledge of designers and architects of the time.

The once-mysterious building now draws sightseers from everywhere who come here not only to admire the architecture but to learn a phenomenon in physics, namely resonance, with a real example in front of their eyes.