Tomb Architecture as a Continuation of Poetic Thought: A Spatial Reading of the Works of Saadi, Hafez, Khayyam, and Ferdowsi

Abstract

In Iranian culture, the tombs of poets have long been regarded not merely as burial places but as symbolic and meaningful spaces that reflect the cultural, literary, and philosophical identities of their occupants. This study explores the relationship between architectural form and decorative elements of poets' mausoleums and the intellectual, personal, and poetic styles of the poets themselves. Its primary aim is to identify how the literary and philosophical elements of each poet are embodied in the architectural character of their tombs. Employing a qualitative, descriptive-analytical methodology, the research uses field observations, visual analysis of architectural elements, and the study of historical and literary texts related to each poet. It also draws on theoretical frameworks in spatial semiotics, literary criticism, and aesthetics to analyze the data. Through a comparative and interdisciplinary examination of selected cases—namely, the mausoleums of Hafez, Saadi, Ferdowsi, and Khayyam—this study seeks to answer the following questions: Can architectural form serve as a visual language for the poet's thought? And what design patterns might be defined for creating tombs that align with a poet's character? The findings reveal a meaningful relationship between the architectural space of these mausoleums and the poets' intellectual styles. For instance, the garden-like and enigmatic structure of Hafez's tomb resonates with the mystical and romantic themes of his poetry. At the same time, the geometric clarity and purity of Khayyam's mausoleum reflect his philosophical and scientific mindset. The innovation of this study lies in its integration of architectural knowledge with literary criticism to interpret memorial spaces.