Baba Taher Mausoleum

Baba Taher, often called Baba Taher-e Oryan ("the naked"), was a mystic poet who lived in Hamedan in the 11th century. He is loved across Iran for his do-beytis — short, two-couplet quatrains in a local dialect, full of longing, faith and plain-spoken grief. Many Iranians know a few of his lines by heart, and they are still sung in folk and classical music.

His mausoleum stands on a small hill in a landscaped park in the north of the city. The present monument was designed by the architect Mohsen Foroughi and completed in 1970, replacing earlier tombs on the same spot. Its octagonal tower of pale stone, framed by tall pointed arches, is crowned with a turquoise tiled dome visible from far down the boulevard.

Inside, the ceiling is a dazzling star of mosaic tilework in blue, gold and turquoise, and the walls are lined with marble panels carved with his quatrains. In the evenings musicians sometimes gather around the tomb to play and sing his verses.

The garden's stepped terraces, fountains and lawns make it a popular evening walk for local families. The tower is lit at night, and the view up the steps from Baba Taher Square is one of the classic images of Hamedan.