Building

The documented history of the Emamzadeh Yahya spans over seven hundred years, from the 1200s to present day. This gallery examines the evolution of the complex and highlights some of the key sources that inform its history. We balance the study of the tomb specifically with the complex as a whole and present a variety of ways to see, study, and experience the site.

History of Evolution The history of the Emamzadeh Yahya extends far beyond the Ilkhanid period (1256–1353). This essay by Keelan Overton and Hossein Nakhaei utilizes a mix of sources to trace the site’s evolution and resonance from the 1200s to the present.
Textual Source In 1863, Qajar officials visited the Emamzadeh Yahya and began researching the genealogy of Yahya b. ʿAli. This interactive Storiiies tour across the pages of texts preserved in the Majles (Parliament) library in Tehran explores how the saint and his tomb were studied.
Stucco Inscription The stucco inscription in the tomb of Emamzadeh Yahya is a central architectural feature, sacred text, and tactile zone of ziyarat. This collaboration includes a filmed recitation and an analysis of its content, reception, and preservation.
Photo Timeline Archival photographs and films are critical sources for understanding the history of the Emamzadeh Yahya. This Photo Timeline of 50+ images traces the complex’s physical transformation over one hundred years, from the 1880s to 1980s.
Site Tour The Emamzadeh Yahya is a shrine complex set in the Kohneh Gel neighborhood of southern Varamin. In this filmed tour, architect Hamid Abhari leads us through the site’s courtyard and tomb and into the surrounding neighborhood.
Digital Tools Digital tools and technologies are transforming the study of historical sites. In this feature, Hossein Nakhaei presents a new layout for the Emamzadeh Yahya complex and critically reconstructs the tomb’s multi-media environment. Coming soon.