Ferdowsi tomb
Who is Hakim "Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi"?
Hakim of Tous was born in the 4th century in a farming family in the village of Paj in Tous. There is little historical information about his life before writing the Shahnameh. The writing of the Shahnameh was completed in the year 384 AH, with further revisions made afterward. Ferdowsi passed away in 416 AH.
Ferdowsi''s full name is Abul-Qasem Hassan Mansur ibn Mohammad ibn Es''haq Sharafshah, and he was born during the Samanid dynasty. At the start of writing the Shahnameh, Ferdowsi was quite wealthy, and the nobles of Khorasan also supported him. However, over time, his wealth dwindled, and he continued writing the Shahnameh under difficult circumstances. The Shahnameh consists of nearly fifty thousand verses, which Ferdowsi composed over a period of three to five years.
Architecture of Ferdowsi''s Mausoleum
Ferdowsi’s mausoleum evokes memories of the tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae. There are staircases on each side of the structure, with Ferdowsi''s tomb resting atop a platform. In front of it, you can see a large pool reflecting the building. Within the pool, three sets of ten fountains have been designed, each shaped like a lotus flower, symbolizing the 30 years of hardship endured by Hakim Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi to create his greatest work, the Shahnameh. Outside the tomb, a statue of Ferdowsi stands. The design of the mausoleum resembles ancient ziggurats, symbolizing both strength and upward movement towards transcendence.
Other Features of Ferdowsi’s Tomb
Museum: Inside the museum, a unique collection of artifacts discovered in the region is preserved. The historical items include stone carvings and pottery from the post-Islamic period. Another section contains gold and silver coins, bows and arrows, the Florence Shahnameh, a 73 kg Shahnameh, glazed pottery, and some donated items.
Library: Ferdowsi''s mausoleum library has two floors. The first floor contains the book collection, while the second floor is a reading room. This library holds more than 9,000 books. Previously, it served ceremonial purposes, and a room on the eastern side was designated as a reception hall for the mausoleum.
How to Get There from Refah Hotel
By personal vehicle: After leaving "Refah Hotel," exit the shrine underpass from the Ayatollah Shirazi exit. After passing through Shohada Square, reach Khajeh Rabi Intersection, and drive along Ayatollah Ebadi Boulevard. Cross over the Imam Hossein Bridge, then enter Khajeh Rabi Boulevard, and take 22 Bahman Boulevard. From the Mashhad-Kalat Road roundabout, continue towards Bagh Faragard Road. At the end of the route, enter Baharestan and from there, reach Ferdowsi 1.
Public transportation: To go from "Refah Hotel" to "Ferdowsi’s Mausoleum," walk to the bus stop at 17th Shahrivar Square, and take bus line 84 to Shohada Crossroad. There, board the BRT line (Elahiyeh Terminal - Mosalla Terminal) and get off at Khiam Intersection. From there, take bus line 202 (Ferdowsi Terminal - Ferdowsi’s Mausoleum) and get off at the mausoleum.
