TEHRAN -- A stone inscription from the Vakil Mosque of Shiraz reported missing in the month of May, has been recently recovered, Director of Fars Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department Mohammadreza Barzegar told the Persian service of IRNA on Tuesday.

The ongoing search by police and the security command of the department over the past months concluded with the discovery of the artifact in a city in Fars Province, Barzegar said. The specific location of the discovery was not disclosed in the news.
The artifact bearing engravings of Quranic verses from the holy surahs of Ikhlas and part of Baqarah was installed on the wall of the main entrance to the mosque. The inscriptions are engraved on a valuable jade stone measuring 125x70cm.
The Vakil Mosque is situated west of the famous Vakil Bazaar. It was built during the Zand dynasty (1750-1779) and covers an area of 8,660 square meters. Both sides of the entrance gate are adorned by magnificent tilework and arches.
The prayer chamber of the mosque contains 48 similar tall pillars of stone with a beautiful ceiling and a marble mihrab that is considered to be one of the most ornate masterpieces of the Zand era.