The tower’s height is about 20 meters; its internal and external diameters are 11 and 16 meters, respectively.
The tower is indeed a solar clock; its external surface is divided into 24 facets (representing 24 hours) and on the upper part of each facet there are four semi-circles each representing a quarter of an hour.
A little more upward, there are six rectangles each representing 10 minutes and there are also very small grooves on them, showing the seconds. Any new position of the sun will change the shadows of these forms, revealing the exact time.
It is said that the tower is also the grave of Toghrol, the Seljuk king, because of his interest in astronomy.
Also known as Mongol Tower and facing the Ibn-e Babeveyh Mausoleum, the structure is a slightly embellished with deeply grooved brickwork. The monumental doorway at the south side has an impressive simplicity.
All the historical and artistic features and evidences indicative of its Seljuk origin, have been destroyed during reparations carried out in 1882 CE. Thus this ancient structure looks like a modern building.
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Tehran, May 30, IRNA -Toghrol Tower, located in Shahr-e Ray, Tehran province, is monument of the Seljuk era. It was built by King Toghrol.
