{{Short description|Village in Razavi Khorasan province, Iran}}

{{for|the administrative divisions|Jolgeh Zuzan District|Zuzan Rural District}}

{{use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Infobox settlement | official_name = Zuzan | image_skyline = Historical-Village-of-Zuzan.jpg | caption = Historical village of Zuzan and Zuzan Mosque (1980) | native_name = {{langx|fa|زوزن}} | settlement_type = Village | pushpin_map = Iran | mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Iran | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Razavi Khorasan | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Khaf | subdivision_type3 = District | subdivision_name3 = Jolgeh Zuzan | subdivision_type4 = Rural District | subdivision_name4 = Zuzan | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date = | area_total_km2 = | area_footnotes = | population_as_of = 2016 |population_footnotes = <ref name="2016 Razavi Khorasan Province"/> | population_total = 2677 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = IRST | utc_offset = +3:30 | coordinates = {{coord|34|20|48|N|59|52|13|E|dim:1km|display=inline,title}} |coordinates_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite map |author=((OpenStreetMap contributors)) |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=34.346667&mlon=59.870278&zoom=15#map=15/34.34667/59.87028|website=OpenStreetMap |title=زوزن, دهستان زوزن, بخش جلگه زوزن [Zuzan, Zuzan Rural District, Jolgeh Zuzan District], Khaf County, Razavi Khorasan, Iran|date=2 November 2024|access-date=2 November 2024|lang=fa}}</ref> | elevation_m = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = {{GEOnet2|32FA8808D54D3774E0440003BA962ED3}} }}

'''Zuzan''' ({{langx|fa|زوزن}}){{efn|Also romanized as '''Zūzan'''; also known as '''Rūzān''' and '''Zozan'''<ref>{{GEOnet3|-3089621}}</ref>}} is a village in, and the capital of, Zuzan Rural District<ref name="Jolgeh Zuzan District Formation"> {{cite web |first=Hassan |last=Habibi |author-link=Hassan Habibi |orig-date={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|مصوب}} (Approved) 1372,04,02 (Iranian Jalali calendar) |date=23 June 1993 <!-- Converted date using https://www.iranchamber.com/calendar/converter/iranian_calendar_converter.php --> |script-title=fa:تصويبنامه در خصوص اصلاحات در محدوده استان خراسان |trans-title=‌Resolution on reforms in the territory of Khorasan province |url=https://qavanin.ir/Law/TreeText/92756 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107173239/https://qavanin.ir/Law/TreeText/92756 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |access-date=5 March 2026 |website={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|سامانه ملی قوانین و مقررات}} [National System of Laws and Regulations] |publisher={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|‌وزارت کشور}} [Ministry of the Interior] |agency={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت}} [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board] |language=fa |id={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|۱۳۳۱۶/۴۲/۴/۱ پيشنهاد شماره}} [Proposal Number 13316/42/1/4].}}</ref>{{efn|Formerly Jolgeh Zuzan Rural District<ref name="Jolgeh Zuzan District Formation"/>}} in Jolgeh Zuzan District of Khaf County, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. The previous capital of the rural district was the village of Qasemabad,<ref name="Torbat-e Heydarieh County Rural Districts"> {{cite web |first=Mir-Hossein |last=Mousavi |author-link=Mir-Hossein Mousavi |orig-date={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|تاریخ تصویب}} (Approval date) 1366.4.10 (Iranian Jalali calendar) |date=1 July 1987 <!-- Converted 'Approval date' using https://www.iranchamber.com/calendar/converter/iranian_calendar_converter.php --> |script-title=fa: ایجاد و تشکیل 20 دهستان شامل روستاها، مزارع و مکانها در شهرستان تربت حیدریه تابع استان خراسان |trans-title=‌Creation and formation of 20 rural districts including villages, farms and places in Torbat-e Heydarieh County, Khorasan province |url=https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/110221 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025195953/https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/110221 |archive-date=25 October 2014 |access-date=5 March 2026 |website={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|مرکز پژوهشهای مجلس شورای اسلامی ایران}} [Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran] |publisher={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|‌وزارت کشور}} [Ministry of the Interior] |agency={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|هیات وزیران}} [Council of Ministers] |language=fa |id={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|پیشنهاد شماره}} [Proposal No.] 44.1.5.53.}}</ref> now a city.<ref name="100 Villages to Cities"> {{cite web |first=Hassan |last=Habibi |author-link=Hassan Habibi |orig-date={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|مصوب}} (Approved) 1378/12/18 (Iranian Jalali calendar) |date=8 March 2000 <!-- Converted date using https://www.iranchamber.com/calendar/converter/iranian_calendar_converter.php --> |script-title=fa:تصويب نامه در خصوص شناخته شدن يكصد روستاي مركز بخش به عنوان شهر |trans-title=‌Approval letter regarding the recognition of 100 villages of the central district as cities |url=https://qavanin.ir/Law/TreeText/?IDS=8106412901968071136 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251014200549/https://qavanin.ir/Law/TreeText/?IDS=8106412901968071136 |archive-date=14 October 2025 |access-date=14 October 2025 |website={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|سامانه ملی قوانین و مقررات}} [National System of Laws and Regulations] |publisher={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|‌وزارت کشور}} [Ministry of the Interior] |agency={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت}} [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board] |language=fa |id={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|تصويب نامه شماره 5453 /ت21162هـ}} [Approval Letter Number 5453/T21162H].}}</ref>

==History== The earliest artifacts of Zuzan date back to the 4th century. Zuzan was the site of a medieval city, flourishing most notably during the reign of the Khwarazmian Empire. Zuzan was at a distance of other major medieval metropolises such as Khargerd, Nishapur, Herat, Jam, and Merv.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=1}}

The city was rectangularly planned and contained irrigation systems and dams.{{sfn|UNESCO World Heritage Centre|2007}} Most of the historical remnants of the city have been lost to time,{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=1}} but two major historical monuments remain, the Zuzan Madrasa and the Malek Zuzan Mosque.

The historical city is on the Iranian tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage nomination.{{sfn|UNESCO World Heritage Centre|2007}}

===Zuzan Madrasa=== Although only parts of the inscription containing the date of the monument remain, this monument can be dated to 1219.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=3}} Andre Godard, a French archaeologist first described the building and attributed it to the Khwarazmian Empire in 1949.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=2}} Godard initially misidentified the building as a mosque but an inscription dedicated to Abu Hanifa shows that the building was actually an Hanafite madrasa.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=5-6}}

Architecturally, the madrasa is influenced by Ghurid and Khwarazmian architecture.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=11}} The building used a typical four-iwan plan type of the region, although only two iwans now remain. The building contains sophisticated ceramics and highly stylized inscriptions.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=15-17}}

==Demographics== ===Population=== At the time of the 2006 National Census, the village's population was 2,183 in 479 households.<ref name="2006 Razavi Khorasan Province"> {{cite web |script-title=fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1385 : استان خراسان رضوی |trans-title=General Population and Housing Census 2006: Razavi Khorasan Province |language=fa |website={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|مرکز آمار ایران}} [Statistical Centre of Iran] |url=http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/09.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920095433/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/09.xls |archive-date=20 September 2011 |format=Excel |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The following census in 2011 counted 2,585 people in 626 households.<ref name="2011 Razavi Khorasan Province"> {{cite web |script-title=fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1390 : استان خراسان رضوی |trans-title=General Population and Housing Census 2011: Razavi Khorasan Province |language=fa |website=Iran Data Portal—Syracuse University |url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Razavi-Khorasan.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120012029/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Razavi-Khorasan.xls |archive-date=20 January 2023 |agency={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|مرکز آمار ایران}} [Statistical Centre of Iran] |format=Excel |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref> The 2016 census measured the population of the village as 2,677 people in 744 households, the most populous in its rural district.<ref name="2016 Razavi Khorasan Province"> {{cite web |script-title=fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1395 : استان خراسان رضوی |trans-title=General Population and Housing Census 2016: Razavi Khorasan Province |language=fa |website={{lang|fa|rtl=yes|مرکز آمار ایران}} [Statistical Centre of Iran] |url=https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_09.xlsx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402213121/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_09.xlsx |archive-date=2 April 2022 |format=Excel |access-date=19 December 2022}}</ref>

==Notable people== * Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad, founding leader of the Druze.{{sfn|Hendrix|Okeja|2018|p=11}} * Abu Sahl Zawzani, Persian statesman who served as the chief secretary of the Ghaznavids briefly in 1040, and later from 1041 to an unknown date was from Zuzan.{{sfn|Bosworth|2001|pp=578–583}} *Qiwam al-Din Muayyid al-Mulk Abu Bakr ibn Ali al-Zuzani, the governor of the area from the 1200 to 1220, who constructed the most notable sites in the village; the Madrasa and Mosque of Malek Zuzan.{{sfn|Blair|1985|pp=2}}

==See also== {{Portal-inline|Iran}} {{clear}}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==Sources== {{refbegin}} *{{cite encyclopedia | article = GHAZNAVIDS | last = Bosworth | first = C. Edmund | year = 2001 | author-link = Clifford Edmund Bosworth | encyclopedia = Encyclopaedia Iranica | volume = X, Fasc. 6 | pages = 578–583 | article-url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ghaznavids }} *{{cite book| title = The World's Greatest Religious Leaders: How Religious Figures Helped Shape World History [2 volumes] | editor1-last = Hendrix | editor1-first = Scott | editor2-last = Okeja | editor2-first = Uchenna | year = 2018 | publisher = ABC-CLIO | page = 11 | isbn = 978-144084138-5 }} *{{Cite web | title = Zuzan | author = <!-- not stated --> | publisher = UNESCO World Heritage Centre | url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5208 | date = 9 August 2007 | access-date = 14 August 2019 | ref = {{harvid|UNESCO World Heritage Centre|2007}} }} *{{cite journal |last1=Blair |first1=Sheila |title=The Madrasa at Zuzan: Islamic Architecture in Eastern Iran on the Eve of the Mongol Invasions |journal=Muqarnas: An Annual on Islamic Art and Architecture |date=1985 |issue=3 |url=https://www.archnet.org/display?source=https://archnet-3-prod-iiif-cloud-c0fe51f0b9ac.herokuapp.com/public/resources/d23dd9f4-3686-491a-a11f-41ffbac66c1c/content |access-date=9 February 2025 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} {{refend}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Razavi Khorasan Province|state=collapsed}}

{{Khaf County|state=collapsed}}

Category:Populated places in Khaf County

{{Khaf-geo-stub}}