In the central pool of the Teahouse there are seven hammered copper sculptures created by artist Ivan Milosovich. The life sized sculptures are based on a 12th century poem, "The Seven Beauties " the 4th poem of Nizami Ganjavi's "Khamsa". The poems were completed in 1197 ad. They chronicle the adventures of Shah Bahram Goirr, son of Yargourd the 1st from the Sasanids dynasty. Nizami uses the well documented events to explore the themes of social justice, morality, and appreciation of nature. The poem is notable for deep content and social sense, as well as rich composition and prominent poetic value.

Click images to enlarge

"The Seven Beauties is the 4th poem of Nizami Ganjavi's "Khamsa, which means "Five Treasuries". The works were completed in 1197 ad, and chronicle the adventure of Shah Bahram Goirr, son of Yargourd the 1st from the Sasanids dynasty. Nizami uses the well documented events to explore the themes social justice, morality, and appreciation of nature. The poem is notable for its deep content and social sense, as well as its rich composition and prominent poetic value.

In the middle ages, the number "SEVEN" was considered a sacred number. Both mythological and scientific beliefs of the day held that the world was divided into seven countries, there are seven planets, weeks are divided into seven days, and the spectrum is composed of seven colors.

In his youth, our hero sees portraits of the seven daughters of the continents in a luxurious palace loses his heart to them. Later, when he becomes the Shah of Iran, he sends for the seven women and marries them. He has the renown architect, Shidda, build a palace with seven cupolas, each colored a different color with a corresponding planet. On the proper day of the week, Bahram would dress himself in the appropriate color, and go to visit the wife that corresponded with the day. Each woman would relate to him a story from her native land and praise the attributes of her own color. All the tales are closely related to popular folklore and combine the scientific and philosophical views on the symbolic effects of the colors. The poem inspires honesty, virtue and kindness, while denouncing arrogance, villiany, greediness and treachery. And so, the princesses' tales serve not only to entertain the Shah, but to ponder life and consider the secrets on the universe and human nature.

THE INDIAN PRINCESS
On Saturday, Shah Bahram, dressed in black, visits the princess of the first continent in the black cupola, and spends the day drinking wine with her. At the end of the day he asks her to tell him a story, and she relates to him a fable from her homeland.

A shah of India is intrigued when a visitor tells him about a town where the men wear only black. He sets out to learn of this town, but when he arrives, no one will tell him why they only wear black. Finally, he befriends the butchers who takes him to the outskirts of town and asks him to sit in a basket in front of a tumbled down minaret. Soon, the shah finds himself in the middle of a picturesque meadow.

The shah is then taken to the palace of the sultan, where he is entertained for thirty days by a different woman from the harem. The most beautiful woman, Turknaz, is withheld from him, and after the month passes he demands that he be permitted to have her. She begs him to wait one more night, but he refuses. Turknaz pretends to acquiesce, and requests that he close his eyes. When he opens them again he finds himself sitting in the butcher's basket again.

The story relates to us that the scope of the human mind on the depth of longing are boundless. The black color exemplifies this in that the extreme darkness of the night does nothing but increase the light of the moon. No color can redye the black color. Black won't endure the company of any other color at all.

THE ROMAN PRINCESS
On Sunday, Bahram visits the second princess in the yellow cupola. Caesar's daughter is dressed in yellow, and has covered her palace in gold so that it seems like the sun. Bahran wears yellow clothes, holds a golden cup, and wears amber jewels.

In the evening, the Roman beauty relates to him a story about an Iraqi shah, who, following the advice of his astrologers, avoids the marriage bond and decides to spend his life with the maidservants he buys himself. But, none of them would be faithful to him in the end, Under the influence of an old woman in the village, they soon become independent and show signs of insubordination. The shah had no choice but to sell them. The shah then sees a beautiful maidservant from China, but the seller warns him that she is very proud and will in no way obey the desires of a man. Still, he buys the maidservant.

With every passing day the shah loves her more and more but she cares nothing for him. When he can stand it no longer, he seeks out the old woman from the village and asks for her help. Finally, the two fall in love.

The story points out that family happiness can't gain a foothold unless it is built on truth an pure love. It asserts that faith, mutual confidence, and sincere relations exert great influence on health, morals, and happiness of future generations.

The princess concludes her story by pointing out that yellow is the color of rejoicing, and gladdens the heart. Saffron makes food fragrant and tasty and puts people in good spirits.

THE PRINCESS FROM KHARAZM
On Monday morning the shah finds his way to the third princess's palace which is related to the moon. The princess, Nazpari, tells him the following story about two men who are the exact opposites of each other.

Bishr, an honest and moral young man, sees a woman in the street and falls in love at first sight. He feels compelled to confess his adoration, so he se embarks on a journey to Beitulmugaddas. On his way, he meet a man named Maliha who is selfish and egotistic. Yet he fools Bishr into believing that he is intelligent and learned, and feigns that he knows the ways of the universe. He even blames Bishr for being ignorant.

After many days of travel, they reach an endless desert. They see a jug of water under a tree, so they slake their thirst and rest under the tree. Maliha announces his desire to bathe in the jug, and Bishr asks him not to pollute the water. Maliha ignores him and plunges into the jug. Meanwhile, when Maliha's wife removes her tippet, Bishr recognizes her as the woman he saw in the street and lost his heart to. He feels he must have her, but he waits for Maliha to come out of the jug. When he does not, Bishr goes to the jug and looks inside, and is surprised to find that it is really a well. Maliha is dead.

The story emphasizes the fates and natures of the two young men. Its final point is that the good nature and manners of Bishr allow him to succeed over Maliha.

Green is a symbol of freshness and youth. To dress in green is to bring good l luck. Nature is much more beautiful when she is clothed in green.

THE SLAV PRINCESS
On Tuesday, dressed in red, Bahram arrives at the fourth princesses red palace which relates to the planet Mars. The Slav princess tells the Shah an interesting story of a Russian princess who was noted for her wisdom.

In one of the regions of Russia, the ruler's daughter, whose face resembled the moon, asks her people to write that she would only marry a young man who was able to fulfill all her requirements and find his way to her enigmatic fortress. The lives of over a thousand men were lost trying to get to her.

Then a newcomer, a bold man, manages to reveal the secrets of the fortress, and carries out all her desires and marries the princess.

The story celebrates the victory of human wit, courage, talent, wisdom, and tenacity. It is the unity of wisdom and bravery that leads to victory.

The princess notes that red symbolizes kindness and victory. It is the color of human blood and the immediate color of beauty.

THE PRINCESS FROM MAGRIB
On Wednesday, the Shah visits the blue palace of the fifth princess, which relates to the planet Mercury. The day passes quickly as Shah Bahran is entranced by the beauty in blue. When he asks her to tell him a story, she relates to him a strange adventure of a merchant from Egypt, named Mahhan.

One even, the rich merchant was feasting with friends when one of his employees ran in and informed him that they should carry their goods to the next town before daybreak to avoid customs. Mahhan agrees, and together they set out. Suddenly the employee disappears and in the darkness, the merchant looses his way and finds himself in an endless desert. He suffers a thousand torments, gives way to despair, and beseeches God for help.

This prayer brings the prophet, Khyzr, the legendary rescuer, who proves to be the salvation of Mahhan.

The story depicts in detail how Mahhan, having never met difficulties in life before, gets overcome with passion of doubling his wealth. Mahhan, having suffered much because of his greediness, is given a chance to save himself only when he becomes strong enough to promise not to yield to passion and longing any more.

The princess praises the blue color and notices that the heaven is dressed in blue, because blue is the most suitable for its height.

THE CHINESE PRINCESS
On Thursday, Bahram visits the sixth princess in the sandalwood tower, which relates to the planet Jupiter. Toward evening, the princess tells him the story of two young men named Kheyir and Shar.

Although they are the exact opposites of each other, the two young men start on a long journey together. Knowing they would have to pass through deserts, Shar, behind Kheyir's back, takes a jug of water. Since Kheyir didn't know the way at all, he lavished Shar with food and generously shares all of his stores with him. Soon, in the boiling sun, Kheyir's supplies are exhausted. When he sees that Shar has some water, he asks for some, but Shar insists that for a mouthful of water Kheyir must sacrifice his eyes. Soon, Kheyir is dead tired of thirst and agrees, and Shar rushes to him and puts out his eyes. Then Shar robs Kheyir, gives him no water, and leaves him alone, covered in blood. A kind noble family find Kheyir and nurse him back to health. Under their care, he recovers and grows wealthy again. By mere chance, Kheyir met Shar again one day. Shar begs for forgiveness, and although it was difficult, Kheyir finds it in his heart to forgive him. But, the noble family cannot forgive him, so they killed him.

The story emphasizes how evil always prejudices the interests of a human society. As soon as possible, evil tried to exterminate goodness. The story reaffirms that truth, as well as honesty, can undergo extremely severe blows. It is even possible that they could temporarily be kept down, b ut they can never be annihilated. Evil will always be defeated by Goodness in the end.

It is the leaves of the Sandalwood tree that heal the eyes of Kheyir. Thanks to an irreplaceable gift of nature he is cured. Thus the significance of the sandalwood tree.

THE IRANIAN PRINCESS
As soon as Friday came, Bahran, dressed in white, goes to the white cupola, relating to the planet Venus. Dursaty, the daughter of the ruler of Iran, was dressed in white clothes. At the end of a hospitable day, she relates to him a story about the color white that was told to her by her mother.

A handsome young man comes home to find his garden locked. He hears music and singing from the inside. Although he knocked and knocked, no one would come open the door for him, so he finally managed to pry a hole in the fence large enough to slip through. When he got inside he saw a group of girls playing and dancing there. At first they think he is a thief and they want to have him arrested, but they come to trust in him and invite him to share their party. Later, they suggest he should choose one of the beauties, and he does so, and retreats to a secret place in the garden. A long series of events interupts them and stops them from enjoying their love. Finally, they decide to abandon their plans of the secret tryst and get married according to the usual custom.

The Iranians beauty's story compels the shah to think of pure spirit, spotless morals, sense of shame, and chastity, as well as the other merits and demerits of human nature. The story depicts how the momentary passion of the young lovers is unable to be realized until they follow a moral path.

White is a symbol of purity, and prosperity.