Tomb of Esther and Mordechai

According to long-standing tradition, this modest brick building holds the graves of Esther, the Jewish queen of the Persian king in the biblical Book of Esther, and her cousin Mordechai. It is the most important Jewish pilgrimage site in Iran, and for centuries Jews from across the country and beyond have come here — especially at the festival of Purim, which celebrates the story of Esther.

The present building is generally dated to the Mongol era, around the 13th–14th century, though the site was revered long before. Its plain brick dome rises above a small courtyard in a residential street of central Hamedan, unassuming from the outside.

Visitors enter through a heavy stone door so low that everyone must bow to pass. Inside, beneath the dome, two carved wooden cenotaphs stand side by side under embroidered covers, and the plastered walls carry Hebrew inscriptions. The site is looked after by Hamedan's Jewish community and includes a small synagogue.

Opening times can vary; if the door is closed, ring the bell and the caretaker will usually let you in. Modest dress is appreciated, and a donation toward the upkeep of the shrine is customary.