In 1598, King Abbas planned an immense urban project. His royal Mosque captured the unprecedented wealth of an art of living, the king's power, and the talent of architect Ali Akbar Esfahani. The royal Mosque is at once a place of prayer, a garden in the middle of the desert and a means for writing all the texts of the faith. It is also a school and a place of public hygiene. It is the incarnation of an incredibly rich life style, the power of a king and the talents of hundreds of artists and craftsmen.