Abstract: Ta'ziyeh, the commemorative theatrical play that dramatically depicts the martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (c. 570–632 CE) – Imam Hossein ibn ‘Ali (c. 626–80) – at Karbala in 680 CE during the first ten days of the Islamic month of Muharram, appeared as the most significant public display in nineteenth-century Qajar Iran (1786–1925). Under Nasir al-Din Shah Qajar (r. 1848–96), ta'ziyeh developed into elaborate theatrics of processional and stationary ceremonies, performed around a melodic eulogy and recitation of the Karbala event known as rowzeh-khwani, reaching its height in popularity with the construction of the royal theater, the Takkiyeh Dowlat, in 1868–69. Tied to the construction of city spaces such as boulevards and royal buildings, the Takkiyeh Dowlat represented a massive ceremonial site, the largest in the capital city, Tehran, where ta'ziyeh plays were organized and performed by actors with considerable elaborate preparation, performance sophistication and visual richness that underlined the splendor and dramatic effect of the plays.
Publication Year: 2013
Publication Date: 2013-02-15
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 2
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