Gonbad-e Qabus

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Gonbad-e Qābus or Gonbad-e Kāvus (also transcribed Gonbad-e Ghābus or Gonbad-i Ghāboos) is a city in the province of Golestan in Iran. It had an estimated population of 135,868 in 2005.[1]

The city is famous for a historic brick tower by the same name.

At 70 meters (230ft) (including the height of the platform), it is the world's tallest brick tower, and is almost 1000 years old.

Built in 1006 CE by the orders of the Ziyarid Amir Shams ol-Ma'āli Qabus ibn Wushmgir (شمس المعالي قابوس بن وشمگير), it is located 3 km north of the ancient city of Jorjan, from where the Ziyarid dynasty ruled.

Legend has it that the Sultan's body was put in a glass coffin and was suspended from the ceiling of the tower. The interiors contain the earliest examples of Muqarnas decorative styles.

A Kufic inscription at the bottom of the tower reads in Arabic:

هذا القصر العالي – لامير شمس المعالي – الامير قابوس ابن وشمگير – امر به بنائه في حياته – سنه سبع و تسعين – و ثلثائيه قمريه و سنه خمس و سبعين و ثلثمائه شمسيه

"This great monument, was built for Amir Shams ul-Ma'ali, Amir Qabus ibn Wushmgir, by his command, during his life, in the year 397 After Hijrah of the lunar calendar, and year 375 of the solar calendar"

The inscription verifies that the tower was built as a tomb for the named Ziyarid ruler.

Iran plans to submit the tower to UNESCO for registration as a World Heritage Site, for the tower's upcoming 1000th anniversary.