Tomb of Sheykh Joneyd and Chehel-Dokhtaran بقعۀ شیخ جنید و چهل دختران
Location: The Tomb of Sheykh Joneyd and the Chehel-Dokhtaran Tower are in Turan Posht, central Iran, Yazd Province.
31°31’21.0″N 53°51’56.5″E
Map
Historical Period
Islamic/Saljuk
History and description
Gonbad-e Sheykh Jonayd or Sheykh Jonayd tomb tower (fig. 1) is located in the village of Turan Posht in the Taft district, 85 km, south of Yazd. The monument is an octagonal stone tower and is considered a notable example of Seljuk-era architectural style.
Based on the brick inscription on its mihrab, now preserved in the National Museum of Iran, the dome was originally built as a tomb tower for Abu Taher Imad, a Seljuk noble. Commissioned by his son, the purpose of the tower has long been understood as commemorative; however, it remains a mystery why it later became associated with Sheikh Junaid, a mystic who died in 543 A.H./ A.D. 1149. Standing nearly 15 meters high, the dome is constructed from rough-hewn stones, locally known as Sang-e Badbar, carefully layered using a hard mortar thought to be a blend of gypsum, ash, and sand, with the gaps between them smoothed and filled with the same material (fig. 2). The dome’s six faces are symmetrical on both the interior and exterior, with the only exceptions being the sections that contain the mihrab and the dome's entrance, which differ in shape, adding a subtle yet intriguing complexity to the design.
A hundred meters to the north is another similar but slightly better-preserved tomb tower (fig. 3) known as Boq’ai Chehel-Dokhtaran (Forty Maidens’s Tomb). The monument (fig. 4) dates probably back to the twelfth century. According to local beliefs, forty girls were buried here simultaneously, which is why it became known as the Chehel Dokhtaran Tomb. Another reason for its name might be the presence of gravestones for women both around and inside the tomb, leading to its association with the “Forty Maidens.”
Fig. 1. Sheykh Jonayd Tomb Tower (image: CreativeCommons)
Fig. 2. Sheykh Jonayd Tomb Tower (image: CreativeCommons)
Fig. 3. Chehel-Dokhtaran Tomb Tower (image: CreativeCommons)
