In the historic Joubareh neighborhood Seljuq minaret is visible from afar and which is leaning a little. There is a story popular among the people which says: “When the minaret was being built old woman passed by it. Workers were busy in building the minaret.
The old woman narrowed and tensed her eyes, a few times looked at the minaret being built and said to the architect: “This is tilted!” The architect was very wise and wit and, on the other hand, he was afraid that the old woman will spread out in the city the rumor that the minaret being built is tilted, so he agrees with the old woman and pretends to push the minaret to the other side and then asks from the woman: “Is it straight now?” Then the pushing in various directions continues for a little while until the old woman is satisfied that now the minaret stands straight and leaves.” It is told that there was a mosque beside this minaret in the past, but it does not exist any more.
Beneath the minaret there was an empty space that was used as a basement. But in 1945 this empty space was filled and blocked completely. There are different opinions about the main cause of why the minaret is leaning. It seems that the foundation of this building, after the construction was finished, seated asymmetrically, causing the minaret to tilt about eight degrees to the south-east direction.
This asymmetrical settling of the foundation was probably due to existing disruptions beneath the building or because of the aquifer changes, or even because of the usage of wells in the houses located next to the minaret. The word “Sarban” in Persian means “a person responsible for the camels, a guard of the camels and of the caravans”.
Since the Sarban minaret was a high outstanding structure that was well-seen from the most parts and areas inside and outside the city, it seems that the main usage of it was the guidance and orientation of the caravans in order to help them to reach the city center. And because of the same reason it was called Sarban minaret. In recent years, because of its leaning, the minaret became famous among the tourists as the Pisa Tower of Isfahan.
Name Sareban Minaret
Nickname Isfahan’s Pizza Tower
Geographical Location Nothern Joobareh Neighborhood
Archaism Seljukian Era
National Heritage Registration No. 232 and on December 6, 1962
