Mahmud of Ghazna and the fallen idol in the temple, Folio from a manuscript of Nigaristan

• Accession Number:AKM272.f97r
• Creator:Author: Ahmad b. Muhammad Ghaffari, Persian, died 1567 Scribe: Ahmad al-Shirazi
• Place: Iran, Shiraz (probably)
• Dimensions:38.7 cm × 25 cm × 6.4 cm
• Date:1573-74 CE/980 AH/AH 980
• Materials and Technique:Ink, opaque watercolour, and gold on paper

• The miniature painting "Mahmud of Ghazna and the fallen idol in the temple" is from an intact manuscript of Kitab-i Nigaristan, a collection of anecdotes and historical incidents written in prose by the historian and scholar Ahmad Muhammad Ghaffari (1504–1567/68) of Kashan in 1551–2. This illustrated manuscript, dated 1573, was probably produced in a Shiraz workshop. 
   

  See AKM272 for more information about the manuscript and links to the other illustrations. 

    

Further Reading 

 
Here, two groups gather together to point at three figures painted on the wall behind them. The central figure appears to float. Text boxes above and below the scene tell of the Ghaznavid ruler, Mahmud (r. 998–1030), who entered a temple where an idol was floating in the air in an upright position. Mahmud asked for an explanation for this oddity, and was told that the statue was made of a magnetic stone while the temple walls were made of iron.  
 
This illustration captures the moment when Mahmud decides to tear out a wall, causing the statue to fall on its head and become irreparably damaged. 
 
- Elika Palenzona-Djalili