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Analyzing Written Sources Related to Avicenna's School-Tomb in Esfahan

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MA in architectural conservation, Faculty of Conservation, Art University of Esfahan, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Conservation, Art university of Esfahan, Iran.

3 Assistant professor, Faculty of Conservation, Art University of Esfahan, Iran.

Abstract

The tomb attributed to Avicenna (Ibn Sina) in Esfahan’s Dardasht neighborhood is a valuable Dailamite-era monument. It was likely once part of a larger architectural ensemble that over time lost its links to adjoining structures and now survives as an isolated domed space. Because physical evidence is limited, its study has relied chiefly on written sources spanning several centuries that directly or indirectly mention Avicenna’s residence, teaching, and death. Using historical, descriptive-analytical, and comparative methods, the relationship between Sheikh al-Ra'is and Esfahan was reassessed. Pre-Safavid sources focus mainly on his biography and works, with only occasional references to the place of his death, burial, and the cities connected to his interment. Post-Safavid texts increasingly highlight the examined structure as both a madrasa and a possible burial site, yet still provide only general narrative fragments and brief notes on architectural features or later alterations. Current evidence has strengthened the plausibility of Avicenna’s burial in Esfahan, though definitive attribution of his tomb to either Esfahan or Hamadan remains unresolved; both cities retain importance. The evidence, however, strongly supports identifying the building as Avicenna’s madrasa in Esfahan. This view is widely accepted by most researchers, including the present authors, who emphasize its role as a significant historical and educational site associated with Sheikh al-Ra'is. The monument’s transformation over time and its enduring cultural significance underscore its relevance to the historical study of Avicenna’s legacy

Keywords

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References
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Historical Sciences Studies
Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 40
December 2025
Pages 51-74
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