Camels from Timurid and early Safavid Iran & Central Asia

 Salvete Omnes 

 

 today a quick trip - astride a camel -:) - to Herat & Tabriz during the Timurid period and early Safavid Iran.

 

Both camels - Bactrian and dromedary - were  bred, milked, eaten, traded and used for riding, transport and as beast of burden in caravans within these realms.

Journey of the Prophet

Kamal-ud-din Bihzad was a courtly painter from Herat under the Tiumrid and early Safavid period -

Camels fighting

camel drummer

camel drummer

..

Kasim/Qasim Ali - another paintre from Herat

from Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp - MET.

and two pages from Shahnama painted in Safavid Persian in mid XVI century - Christies.

Valete

Polo - XV century miniature from Persia

 Salvete Omnes,

from the Chester Beatly Library comes a rare XV century miniature of horsemen playing polo - titled ''Siyavush plays polo before Afrasiyab.' A folio from the Book of Kings (Shahnama) painted circa 1480AD.

During the turbulent XV century the Timurid Empire crumbled in the west, and Aq Qoyunlu Turkoman sultanate conquered most of Persia. These horsemen playing polo are dressed in the period costumes and equipment, albeit they portray persons and events taking place described  in the great epic of Shahnameh. 
The 540 years old miniature should be distinguished for its beauty and quality of line and painting.

enjoy

Valete