Saadi of Shiraz is the title of the Shirazi poet from the 13th century. He became interested in religion, knowledge, and research in his adolescence and left Shiraz to acquire knowledge in Baghdad. He got under the influence of his masters and went on long journeys. Most of these trips are recorded in his book and some scholars believe most of these stories are based on what he heard from people but his trips to that time’s Iraq, Syria and Arabia are certain. His books are published in three volumes with the titles of Golestan, Bustan, and Ghazaliaat.

One of the reasons for his fame today is the following poem:

بنی آدم اعضای یکدیگرند که در آفرینش ز یک گوهرند

چو عضوی بدرد آورد روزگار دگر عضوها را نماند قرار

Human beings are members of a whole

In creation of one essence and soul

If one member is afflicted with pain

Other members uneasy will remain

The Architecture of the Tomb

After his death, Saadi was placed in a tomb that was used as his convent before his death. This tomb is located in the northeast of Shiraz and next to Delgosha Garden. In Karim Khan Zand’s era, a two-floor building with a corridor and a chamber were built as a memorial. This building had a corridor leading to a room that now encircles the grave of another famous poet of Shiraz called Shourideh Shirazi (1858-1927). No roof was placed over Saadi’s grave and on the second floor and today we can see the high distance from the ceiling over his grave. The present structure of the tomb was built in 1952 assimilating old and new architectures in an octagonal construction with a high ceiling and beautiful tiling.