![Sadirvan of the Süleymaniye Mosque](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Sadirvan_of_the_S%C3%BCleymaniye_Mosque.jpg)
A shadirvan ( fa, شادروان, tr, şadırvan, ar, شاذروان) is a type of
fountain
A fountain, from the Latin "fons" (genitive "fontis"), meaning source or spring, is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water. It is also a structure that jets water into the air for a decorative or dramatic effect.
Fountains were ori ...
that is usually built in the courtyard or near the entrance of mosques,
caravanserais,
khanqahs, and
madrasa
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , pl. , ) is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary instruction or higher learning. The word is variously transliterated '' ...
s, with the main purpose of providing water for drinking or
ritual ablutions to several people at the same time, but also as decorative visual or sound elements.
Shadirvan are
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
in origin and, with a curtain or drape, were originally placed in the tents of rulers or on the balconies of palaces.
They are a typical element of
Ottoman architecture
Ottoman architecture is the architectural style that developed under the Ottoman Empire. It first emerged in northwestern Anatolia in the late 13th century and developed from earlier Seljuk Turkish architecture, with influences from Byzantine a ...
.
See also
*
Cantharus, a similar fountain in Christian places of worship
*
Howz
In traditional Persian architecture, a howz ( fa, حوض) is a centrally positioned symmetrical axis pool. If in a traditional house or private courtyard, it is used for bathing, aesthetics or both.
If in a sahn of a mosque, it is used for perfo ...
*
Sebil or sabil, public water fountain in Islamic countries
References
External links
{{Authority control
Fountains
Islamic architectural elements
Water and religion