The Shrine of Imam Reza is rich in beautiful calligraphic inscriptions that document the history of the shrines beautification and construction throughout the past 1000 years. While most inscriptions date from the era of Kings, some tell the story of more recent repairs during the Islamic Republic era.

One of such inscription plaques is a green vertical strip with gold calligraphy on the drum of Imam Reza’s dome. The Inscription references the retrofitting and regilding of the dome in the year 1980. At the time a layer of concrete and rebar was applied to the external shell of the near 700 year old dome. This layer increased the circumference of the dome and when the old calligraphic bands were returned to their positions there was a little extra space for an additional inscription. Now the name of three of Iran’s rulers adorns the dome of Imam Reza, beginning with the original calligraphic band of Shah Abbas I’s era, the four medallions from the repairs following damages caused by an earthquake during the era of Shah Soleyman Safavid, and finally the regilding and retrofitting of the dome during Emam Khomeini’s era. It should be mentioned, only the inscription from Emam Khomeini’s era is written in Persian, as both Safavid era inscriptions are written in Arabic as was customary during the time.