Vizier
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Historically, a vizier is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the countries of "greater Persia". The Abbasid caliphs gave the title wazir to a minister formerly called katib, who was at fi
An illustrated Portrait of Muhammad Shah Qajar and his Vizier Haj Mirza Aghasi in Iran during the 19th century. Vizier's roles as advisors in courts evolved over time, becoming an important part of official government institutions.
The winter Diwan of a Mughal Vizier
Portrait of Amir Kabir, Vazir of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (Qajar dynasty)
Ivory chess vizier, Italy, 12th century
Ganjifa
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Ganjifa, Ganjapa or Gânjaphâ, is a card game and type of playing cards that are most associated with Persia and India. After Ganjifa cards fell out of use in Iran before the twentieth century, India b
Various Ganjifa cards from Dashavatara set
Images of ivory playing cards bought in a Cairo bazaar by French traveller Mr. Émile Prisse d'Avennes (1807-1879), during his visit to Egypt in the period 1827-1844. He identified them as Persian by the style and quality.
Images of cards from the collection of Francis Douce, shown by Samuel Weller Singer. The figure on horseback on the card in the top right corner appears to be holding an object marked " برات ", meaning 'bill' or 'cheque' in Persian.
Mughal Ganjifa Playing Cards, Early 19th century, courtesy of the Wovensouls collection