16th century, 17th century, historical figure, Persia, Persian, primary source, quotes, stories
Kachal MusÌ£tÌ£afaÌ„ was a jester to the Persian Safavid king, ShaÌ„h Ê¿AbbaÌ„s I (r. 1588-1629). Typically for a jester, he was given broad access to the court, although with the notable exception of the Shah’s harem. On one occasion, no doubt presuming on his usual...
17th century, historical figure, Persia, Persian, primary source, quotes, stories
The French traveller Jean Chardin (1643-1713), who spent several years living, working and travelling in Persia in the late 17th century, tells us of an anecdote concerning Kal Ê¿EnaÌ„yat (‘ Ê¿EnaÌ„yat the Bald’, d. 1608), one of the jesters at the court of...
17th century, historical figure, Persia, Persian, primary source, quotes, stories
The Persian Safavid king ShaÌ„h Ê¿AbbaÌ„s I (r. 1588-1629) seems to have had several jesters, including, unusually, a woman. Another jester was Kal Ê¿EnaÌ„yat (‘ Ê¿EnaÌ„yat the Bald’, d. 1608), baldness being a time-honoured attribute often associated with fools...
17th century, historical figure, Persia, Persian, primary source, quotes, stories
Gianni Izzo’s excellent article on jesters of the Persian Safavid and Zand courts shines a light on additional Persian jesters (that is, perhaps ‘new’ to a Western audience). Rich new seams of anecdotes, primary sources, mini-biographies and great...
