Shadirvan

A fountain (şadırvan) for ritual ablutions in front of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

File:Sadirvan of the Süleymaniye Mosque.jpg

Shadırvan of the Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul

Shadirvan (Turkish: şadırvan, Arabic: شاذروان‎‎) is a type of fountain that is usually built in the yard or entrance in front of mosques, caravanserais, khanqahs and madrasahs, with the main purpose of providing water for drinking or ritual ablutions to several people at the same time, but also as decorative visual or sound element.

Shadirvan is Persian in origin, and is a typical element of Ottoman architecture. Examples include Shadirvan square in Prizren, and the Band-e Kaisar Shadervan Bridge in Iran.

The term sadirvan may alternatively be spelt shadervan; shaderwan; şadervan; šadervan, šadrvan or šedrvan; and Шадраван (shadravan).