Varamin

Strategically located in a fertile plain south of Tehran, Varamin occupies an important place in many economic, social, and cultural histories of central Iran. This gallery explores Varamin’s considerable architectural heritage spanning the pre-Islamic to Islamic periods, its significance as a Shiʿi center over many centuries, and its bustling streetscapes today.

History The documented history of Varamin spans over ten centuries. In this essay, architectural historian Hossein Nakhaei charts the city’s shifting political and cultural contexts while emphasizing its role as a significant Shiʿi center.
Architectural Heritage The Varamin region is home to many sites with architectural and cultural value. In this ArcGIS StoryMap, we introduce fifteen sites dating from the pre-Islamic to early modern periods, many of which remain in use and help to contextualize the Emamzadeh Yahya.
Oral History Local historian Mohammad Amini has dedicated his life to studying Varamin’s social and cultural histories. In this filmed interview with anthropologist Jabbar Rahmani, Mr. Amini remembers the Moharram rituals of his childhood.
Photo Album In June 1881, French traveler Jane Dieulafoy spent a week in Varamin and took twenty-nine photographs. This tour of her photo album preserved in the INHA library in Paris illuminates her documentation of many sites long since transformed.
City Tour Present-day Varamin is both the center of its own county and a suburb of Tehran. In this filmed tour, architect Hamid Abhari explores its streets, spaces, and monuments, including the central square, congregational mosque, and several emamzadehs.
Maps Varamin’s geography can be mapped in many ways, depending on the eye and goals of the mapmaker. This collection of fixed and interactive maps provides a holistic view of the city through archaeological, aerial, and socio-cultural frames.