Historical clock starts ticking in downtown Tehran

The historical tower-mounted clock, which Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom presented to Naser al-Din Shah in the 19th century, has started ticking once again in downtown Tehran.

In the 19th century, the clock was mounted on top of Shams-ol-Emareh (Edifice of the Sun) to inform all the people of the then small Tehran passing of the time. The loud sound of the clock, however, caused the settlers in the palace to complain.

However, the attaint work on the clock did not do any good and muted the clock. The clock remained silent for over a hundred years. This silence finally ended on 12 November 2012 after repairs were finished, and the clock’s bell sounded again for a while.

As part of UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace, Shams-ol-Emareh is a five-floor building symmetrically parallel from the outside as the two towers on the left and right sides of the building are tall enough to give a pleasant view of the surroundings.

The decorative art of Shams ol-Emareh contains beautiful mirror work, fantastic paintings, and fascia on the walls or ceilings. The clock on the outer side of the building is said to be the first clock imported to Iran.

A destination for domestic and international travelers, Golestan Palace is located in the heart and historic core of Tehran. The palace complex is one of the oldest in the Iranian capital, originally built during the Safavid dynasty in the historic walled city.

MM/MM