The perfect mirrors of Persian garden pools inspire contemplation and introspection. For mystics, such as the 15th century Shah Nematollah Vali, whose Kerman mausoleum is seen here, they provided metaphorical means of seeing God and acquiring spiritual knowledge. For these art students visiting the Bagh-e Tarikhi garden in Mahan, its waters may have evoked a recurring simile in Persian poetry – the heart polished like a mirror to reflect only his beloved’s beauty.
