Ritual

The main form of Islam practiced in Iran is Twelver Shiʿism, which hinges on devotion to descendants (Emams and Emamzadehs) of the Prophet Mohammad. This gallery explores the venerated figures, sacred spaces, rituals, and material cultures of Twelver Shiʿism. We present this religious tradition through a mix of personal, cultural, local, and transnational frames.

Twelver Shiʿism Pious visitation (ziyarat) to the tombs of Emams and their descendants is a central component of Twelver Shiʿism. In this essay, anthropologist Sepideh Parsapajouh introduces the ritual practices of ziyarat and some major shrines in Iran and beyond.
Power of Touch The most important moment of pious visitation (ziyarat) is when the pilgrim attaches to the screen (zarih) enclosing the cenotaph. In this account based on recent fieldwork in Karbala, anthropologist Sepideh Parsapajouh considers the power of touch.
Yahya b. ʿAli The Emamzadeh Yahya is the tomb of Yahya b. ʿAli (d. 869–70), a descendant of Emam Hasan. In this essay, historian Ahmad Khamehyar explores Emamzadeh Yahya’s genealogy and biography and the larger landscape of venerated saints in Iranian Twelver Shiʿism.
Ritual Objects In April 1958, American scholar Myron Bement Smith visited the Emamzadeh Yahya and took an important photograph of ritual objects and furnishings in the tomb. This interactive Exhibit feature provides a detailed tour of this rare photograph.
Ritual Memories Don’t forget to watch the interview with local historian Mohammad Amini about the Moharram rituals of his childhood in Varamin and Kohneh Gel. His memories are paired with glimpses of mourning processions in a documentary film from the 1960s.
Enter the Checklist Don’t forget to visit the Checklist of 50+ catalog entries devoted to the everyday things and luxury arts of Iranian shrines. Contributed by experts worldwide, these texts explore materials in situ, in the museum, and in broader cultural space and practice.