Uploaded November 2012 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago

---

A spandrel in the Darb-i Imam shrine in Isfahan, Iran (ca. 1453) and overlay of the large-and small-scale pattern reconstructed with the same girih tiles in various sizes, the only example of a nearly perfect quasi-crystalline Penrose pattern.

Read the full story here: discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/59-medieval-mosque-shows-amazing-math-discovery

—

ABOUT DISCOVER:
Discover is your source for science that matters, makes sense and is a lot of fun, too.
Visit us at: discovermagazine.com

FOLLOW US:
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverMag
Twitter: twitter.com/DiscoverMag
Instagram: instagram.com/discover.magazine

SUPPORT US:
Subscribe to Discover: bit.ly/34seAFT
Sign up for our newsletter: discovermagazine.com/newsletter-signup
My Science Shop: myscienceshop.com

STAY CURIOUS!