Jameh Mosque, Qazvin

As seen in the case of Tarikhaneh Mosque in Damghan, the architec- ture of early mosques in Iran was extremely simple at the beginning of the Arab reign. Decorations and ornamentation were later added as their spaces physically developed and complicated. The Jameh Mosque of Qazvin is a clear example of the spatial transformation of outstanding Iranian mosques developing from simple to complete forms, and as such, calls for a deep attention towards, and a careful study of its historical development. Constructing a Jameh Mosque in a large Iranian city would add to the status and credibility of the city. In general, mosques served not only as spaces of worship and saying the daily prayers but also as a domain for various social interactions and holding different reli- gious and ritualistic celebrations. In the absence of many of modern social institutions, the mosque served as a place where different social strata were present and could solve social problems, settle disputes, share opinions or make decisions. As such, the mosque functioned as an active and lively space throughout the year and under various historical conditions. If kings or princes had a keen interest in constructing or restoring mosques it was because it re- sponded to their need for establishing a firm relations with the people and was interpreted as a sign of their faith and belief in the official religion of the society. This served as a force behind the development of mosques, particularly Jameh Mosques.