Ustad Isa (original) (raw)

Ustad Isa (Master Isa) is the assumed architect of the Taj Mahal, which was ordered to be built by Shah Jahan as a burial place for himself and his wife Arjumand Banu Begum. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and took 22 years. A group of architects were called from various countries of the world, which included the Ottoman Empire, India, Persia and Italy. Credit for the construction as the head of all architects is usually given with some uncertainty to Ustad Isa, who was either Turkish or Persian. He was accompanied by a Turkish architect, Isa Muhammad Effendi, a pupil of the greatest Turkish architect Sinan, who presumably drew the final plan of the building, a Venetian named Geronimo Veroneo, who played a major role in the planning stage of the construction and Amanat Khan Shirazi, a Persian, who was possibly in charge of the calligraphy, where verses from the Koran are carved onto the marble.