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At all times, the earth has been filled with all kinds of myths, and with the advent of the Internet in our lives, true and not so true stories instantly become known to the general public. You've probably already heard about the "incomparable Anis al-Dolyah", because of whom 13 young people took their own lives, and you've even seen her photo. What can you say about Melania Trump’s grandmother: are they similar to her supposed granddaughter or not?
website did some research and found out what's really behind some popular internet stories.
Myth #16: The Iranian Qajar princess was a symbol of beauty in the early 20th century. 13 young men committed suicide because she did not agree to become their wife
You've probably seen a photo of "Princess Qajar" or "Anis al-Dolyah" with such a caption. This woman doesn't fit into modern beauty standards even in Iran itself, but some people believe that things were very different more than 100 years ago.
There is some truth in this, but it is worth asking another question: did such a princess really exist? Yes and no. The woman in the tutu-like outfit was named Taj al-Dola, and she was the wife of Nasser al-Din Shah of the Qajar dynasty.
There is an opinion that the photo is not the real wife of the Shah, but a male actor, but this is probably nothing more than speculation, because Taj was a real historical figure.
Princess Qajar is a symbol of beauty in Persia (Iran) 13 young men killed themselves because she rejected them. pic.twitter.com/DYvOd41LT1
— Creatures Of Earth (@culture_pix) November 2, 2017
And here is another “Qajar princess” (on the left), a photo of which you could also see with the same text about the symbol of beauty and 13 unfortunate young people. This lady was the daughter of Taj al-Dola and her name was Ismat al-Dola.
Of course, both mother and daughter were not fatal beauties who broke the hearts of numerous fans. If only because they lived in a Muslim country and hardly had the opportunity to communicate with strangers, much less choose a husband.
As for the woman on the right, her name was also Taj and she was Ismat al-Dol’s sister on her father’s side - he, like many eastern rulers, had more than one wife. Taj al-Saltaneh, also known as Zahra Khanum, went down in history as an artist, writer and the first feminist in Iran who was not afraid to take off her hijab, wear European clothes and divorce her husband.
Myth #15: Nikola Tesla worked as a swimming instructor
— Prof Jeff Cunningham (@cunninghamjeff) August 29, 2017This is what a real giant hornet looks like. The true size of the “tiger bee” is also impressive, but fortunately it is not as huge as its model, which we are incredibly happy about.
Myth #12: The whale that died from eating garbage
The photo, which many have mistaken for a dead whale with a pile of garbage in its stomach, is actually an installation created by Greenpeace Philippines to raise awareness about ocean pollution. But, unfortunately, this happens in reality, and not only whales suffer, and not only in the Pacific region, so we have something to think about.
Myth No. 11: “Ancient Astronaut” on the wall of the New Cathedral in Salamanca (Spain)
Where did the astronaut come from on the wall of the cathedral, built in the 16th century? It's simple: during the restoration in 1992, the artist Jeronimo Garcia decided to depict something unusual and carved a figurine in a spacesuit, and in addition to it, a faun holding an ice cream cone in his paw.
Myth No. 10: Description of a photograph of a wolf pack
“A wolf pack: the first 3 are the old or sick, they give the pace to the entire pack. If it was the other way round, they would be left behind, losing contact with the pack. In case of an ambush they would be sacrificed. Then come 5 strong ones, the front line. pic.twitter.com/bh1PtM7nV1
— LoneWanderer ♔🇭🇷 (@MMLoneWanderer) June 16, 2018
This photo also “went to the people” with a description taken from someone’s head and not corresponding to reality. Allegedly, the first three wolves in the pack are the oldest and weakest, the five following them are the strongest, in the middle is the rest of the pack, another five strong animals close the group, and behind them all is the leader who controls the situation.
However, the author of the photo, Chadden Hunter, explains that the pack hunts bison in this way, and in front is not the three weakest animals, but the alpha female.
Myth No. 9: A she-wolf protects the male's throat in a fight.
You have probably seen this photo more than once with a touching caption that the she-wolf is “hiding”, pretending to be scared, while at the same time she protects the male’s throat, knowing that she will not be touched in a fight. Alas, this too is nothing more than a beautiful fairy tale.
A fairly popular photograph “without Photoshop” turned out to be the result of merging two different photographs. The sky was borrowed from the Dutch photographer Marieke Mandemaker and superimposed on a photo of the Crimean Bridge in Moscow.
Myth No. 7: "Heaven's Gate" photographed by the Hubble telescope
The “unusual photo that amazed scientists” turned out to be the work of graphic designer Adam Ferriss, which, however, was based on a real photo of the Omega Nebula (aka the Swan Nebula).
This is what the original photo looks like. By the way, this nebula can be observed in an amateur telescope - its shape resembles a ghostly swan floating across the sky.
Myth No. 6: In China they fake... cabbage
It seems that we have already become accustomed to the idea that in our time absolutely everything can be faked. And in fact, cabbage made from some liquid substance is very similar to the real thing. Is it really being sold to unsuspecting buyers? Not at all.
This “fake” cabbage, as well as other “products”, serves only as a dummy in food service outlets in China, Korea, Japan and some other countries.
Myth #5: There was no hotel room for Arnold Schwarzenegger, so he had to sleep on the street next to his own statue.
Before “Iron Arnie” had time to make a joke on his Instagram, sharing this photo with the meaningful caption “How times have changed,” it was immediately posted on another resource, where they made up a whole story about how the actor and former governor of California was not allowed into the hotel and he had to sleep right on the ground.
Of course, Schwarzenegger didn't spend the night on the street. And the photo was taken not near the hotel, but near the city convention center, opposite the entrance to which there is a statue depicting young Arnold in his best form.
Last time we talked about the three main favorites of the Shah, in this issue we will continue to get acquainted with the family of the ruler of Iran. Nasser ad-Din Shah had more than a dozen daughters, I’ll tell you about the lives of four princesses.
Princess Esmat al-Daula
Her mother was also of royal blood, Esmat had a strong and independent character, she became the first Iranian woman to learn to play the piano. She loved literature and tried herself in this field.
Very young Esmat (left) next to her older sister and father (find the Shah)
Esmat in his youth
Esmat often wore European-style clothes. Look, Esmat in a white dress is leaning on the balustrade, you can see a gazebo in the distance, and a dog is nestled at her feet - just an example of European painting.
Princess Esmat al-Daula
Esmat had two sons and two daughters.
Esmat with his mother* and little daughter Fakhr al-Taj (granddaughter of the Shah)
Esmat al-Daula with his daughter (granddaughter of the Shah) Fakhr al-Taj
Esmat studies literature
Princess Esmat al-Daula
She died of malaria in 1905
Mourning for Esmat
Turan Agha Fakhr al-Daula and Tuman Agha Forugh al-Daula - daughters of the Shah
The youngest of the princesses (they were sisters, from the same mother**), Fakhr (1862 - 1892), was interested in art, read a lot, wrote poetry and wrote down for us the favorite story of her father, Amir Arsalan, which was told to the Shah before bed. Fakhr adored the Shah and often accompanied him on trips around the country, and while separated, she maintained constant correspondence with her father.
Turan Agha Fakhr (left) and Tuman Agha Forugh (right)
Turan Agha Fakhr died quite young from tuberculosis. Contemporaries noted the exquisite and sophisticated beauty of the Shah's daughter.
Turan Agha Fakhr
The eldest, Forugh (1850-1937), also wrote poetry, she gave birth to three sons and four daughters. At the beginning of the 20th century, she became actively interested in politics and participated in constitutional activities.
Forugh al-Daula
Laila Khanum (Shah's wife, left), Fakhr al-Daula (left) and Forugh al-Daula (center)
(Laila Khanum is not the mother of the sisters; their mother** had already died by that time)
Forugh al-Daula (center) dressed as a dervish
funny moment - one of the Shah's daughters and his grandson
Anis al-Daula (first from left in the bottom row), Forugh (third from left in the bottom row) hugs one of the Shah's wives Laila Khanum, Fakhr (third from left in the second row)
Taj al-Saltan or Zahra Khan Taj es-Saltan (1884 – 25 January 1936)
- the most famous daughter of Nasser ad-Din Shah from his wife Turan es-Saltan.
Zahra Khanom Taj es-Saltan
Taj es-Saltaneh is a beauty, a feminist, a writer, who left memories of life at the court of her father and after his murder.
The memoirs have come down to us in an incomplete copy, and this is the only evidence of its kind authored by a woman from the royal family of Iran at that time.
Taj's early childhood memories are full of bitterness. She was raised by nannies, governesses and tutors, and was separated from her mother, whom she saw only twice a day. If her father was in Tehran, then once a day, usually around noon, she was brought to see him for a short time. In his memoirs, Taj mentions the need for close contact with the mother and the benefits of breastfeeding.
At the age of seven, the girl received her primary education at the royal school, but in 1893 she was forced to leave school and study with private tutors, some of whom she mentions in detail in her book. The style and content of the memoirs reveal her familiarity with Persian and European literature and history. She was also taught to play the piano and tar, painting and the art of embroidery.
Zahra Khanom Taj es-Saltan as a child
When Taj turned eight, negotiations began about her marriage. In early 1893, at the age of nine, Taj es-Saltaneh was betrothed to Amir Hussein Khan Shoja al-Saltaneh, and a wedding contract was signed in December of that year. The groom was also still a child, “probably eleven or twelve years old.” But the marriage was not consummated; the couple celebrated their wedding only in 1897, a year after the assassination of Nasser ad-Din Shah, when Taj was thirteen years old.
Unknown artist, Zahra Khanom Taj es-Saltan in European dress
All marriages of women from the royal family were concluded for reasons of profit, there was no talk of love. However, Taj looked forward to marriage, hoping to gain the relative independence of a married woman. After the murder of her father, all the royal wives and children were transported to one of the Sarvestan residences, where Taj es-Saltana felt almost like a prisoner.
Taj advocates love marriage, criticizing contractual unions in which the well-being of the married couple is completely disregarded. In the first years of their married life, she and her husband were teenagers still playing children's games, and the young wife was offended by her husband's neglect, which began almost immediately after their wedding night. Like most men from noble Qajar families, Hussein Khan had many lovers, both male and female; and Taj justifies his own flirtations and affairs as revenge for his spouse's neglect and infidelity. Aref Qazvini, Iranian poet, composer and musician, is the most famous of the men mentioned in the memoirs. He dedicated his famous poem "Ey Taj" to the beautiful daughter of the Shah.
Taj gave birth to four children - two sons and two daughters, but one boy died in infancy.
Zahra Khanom Taj es-Saltan with children
Taj also mentions a dangerous abortion undertaken after she learned of her husband's venereal disease. Ironically, the physical and emotional consequences of the abortion were considered manifestations of hysteria, a diagnosis that gave her freedom to leave her home: “The doctors ordered me to go outside to unwind... due to my illness, I was given some relief from the usual confinement at home.”
She spoke about the interest of her contemporaries in Europe and wrote in her memoirs: “I desperately wanted to go to Europe.” But, unlike her older sister Akhtar, she never managed to visit there. While writing her memoirs in 1914, she attempted suicide three times.
Taj es-Saltan
The troubled first marriage ultimately ended in divorce in December 1907. Taj does not discuss any subsequent marriages in his memoirs, but as mentioned, the manuscript is incomplete. Her free communication with men and her romantic (or even sexual) relationships with them gave her the reputation of a “free woman” (she was considered a prostitute).
Taj es-Saltan
In March 1908, Taj remarried, the marriage lasted only a few months, and divorce followed in July 1908. In later years, Taj es-Saltaneh became actively involved in constitutional and feminist activities. Along with some other women of the royal family of Iran, she was a member of the Women's Association during the Constitutional Revolution in Persia 1905-1911. and fought for women's rights.
In 1909 she marries for the third time; it is unknown how this marriage ended, but in 1921 Taj describes herself as a single, unmarried woman.
Memories depict a deeply unhappy life, and a series of letters written by Taj to various premiers in the early 1920s to restore her pension reveal the financial difficulties she was going through.
Taj es-Saltan
In 1922, Taj accompanied one of her daughters to Baghdad, where her son-in-law, an official in the Foreign Office, was posted. She died in obscurity, probably in Tehran in 1936.
to be continued
* - Princess Khojasteh Khanom Qajar "Tadj al-Dowla," aghdi
** - Khazen al-Dowla, sigheh
Sources:
Women in Iran from 1800 to the Islamic Republic, Lois Beck, Guity Nashat, University of Illinois Press, 2004
Liminalities of Gender and Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century Iranian Photography: Desirous Bodies by Staci Gem Scheiwiller, Routledge, 2016
Sexual Politics in Modern Iran by Janet Afary, Cambridge University Press, 2009
Veils and Words: The Emerging Voices of Iranian Women Writers, Farzaneh Milani, I.B.Tauris, 1992
Pivot of the Universe: Nasir Al-Din Shah Qajar and the Iranian Monarchy, 1831-1896, Abbas Amanat, I.B.Tauris, 1997
The Encyclopædia Iranica
The Taj Mahal is one of the most grandiose buildings located in India; every year the number of visitors to the majestic mausoleum exceeds 5 million people. Tourists are attracted not only by the beauty of the structure, but also by the beautiful history associated with it. The mausoleum was erected by order of the padishah of the Empire, who wanted to tell the whole world about his longing for his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal. What is known about the Taj Mahal, declared the pearl of Muslim art, and the love that led to its creation?
Shah Jahan: biography of the padishah
“Lord of the World” - this is the meaning of the name that one of the most famous Mughal padishahs received from his father, who loved him more than other children. Shah Jahan, the famous creator of the Taj Mahal, was born in 1592. He led the Mughal Empire at the age of 36, seizing the throne after the death of his father Jahangir and getting rid of his rival brothers. The new padishah quickly established himself as a decisive and ruthless ruler. Thanks to several military campaigns, he managed to increase the territory of his empire. At the beginning of his reign, he was one of the most powerful people of the 17th century.
Shah Jahan was interested not only in military campaigns. For his time, the padishah was well educated, cared about the development of science and architecture, patronized artists, and appreciated beauty in all its manifestations.
Fateful meeting
Legend has it that the ruler of the Mughal Empire met his future wife Mumtaz Mahal by chance; it happened while walking through the bazaar. From the crowd of people, his gaze caught a young maiden holding wooden beads in her hands, whose beauty captivated him. The padishah, who was still heir to the throne at that time, fell in love so much that he decided to take the girl as his wife.
Mumtaz Mahal, an Armenian by nationality, came from the family of vizier Abdul Hassan Asaf Khan, who was part of the circle of Padishah Jahangir’s circle. The girl, who was named Arjumand Banu Begam at birth, was the niece of Jahangir's beloved wife Nur Jahan. Consequently, she could boast not only of an attractive appearance, but also of noble origin, so there were no obstacles to the wedding. On the contrary, such a marriage strengthened the position of the heir as a contender for the throne, but he still married for love.
Marriage
Jahangir happily allowed his beloved son to marry the girl he liked, Mumtaz Mahal; the bride’s nationality was also not perceived as an obstacle, given the noble origin of her father. The betrothal ceremony took place in 1607, when the bride, born in 1593, was no more than 14 years old. For unknown reasons, the wedding was postponed for 5 years.
It was during the wedding that she received her beautiful name Mumtaz Mahal. The biography of the famous wife of the ruler of the Mughal Empire says that it was invented by his father-in-law Jahangir, who was still ruling at that time. The name is translated into Russian as “the pearl of the palace,” which serves as proof of the girl’s extraordinary beauty.
The husband of the “pearl,” as befits the heir to the throne, had a huge harem. However, not a single concubine was able to win his heart, making him forget about the charming Arjumand. During her lifetime, Mumtaz Mahal became the favorite muse of famous poets of that time, who praised not only her beauty, but also her kind heart. The Armenian woman became a reliable support for her husband, accompanying him even on military campaigns.
Misfortune
Unfortunately, it was Arjumand's devotion that cost her her life. She did not consider pregnancy an obstacle to being close to her beloved husband during all his travels. She gave birth to a total of 14 children, which was typical up to that time. The last birth turned out to be difficult; the empress, exhausted by the long campaign, was unable to recover from it.
Mumtaz Mahal passed away in 1631, just short of her fortieth birthday. The tragic event took place in a military camp located near Burhanpur. The emperor was with his beloved wife, with whom he had lived together for 19 years, in her last moments. Before leaving this world, the empress made two promises from her husband. She made him swear that he would not remarry and also build a grand mausoleum for her, the beauty of which the world could enjoy.
Mourning
Until the end of his life, Shah Jahan could not come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife. For 8 whole days he refused to leave his own chambers, rejected food and forbade anyone to talk to him. Legend has it that grief even pushed him to attempt suicide, which, however, ended in failure. By order of the ruler of the Mughal Empire, mourning in the state continued for two years. During these years, the population did not celebrate holidays; music and dancing were banned.
The famous padishah found some consolation for himself in the fulfillment of Arjumand’s dying will. He really refused to marry again, and finally lost interest in his huge harem. On his order, construction began on the mausoleum, which today is one of the most majestic buildings in the world.
Location of the Taj Mahal
In which city is the Taj Mahal located? The city of Agra, located approximately 250 km from Delhi, was chosen for the construction of the mausoleum. The Padishah decided that the tribute to the memory of his beloved wife would be located on the coast of the Jamna River. He was attracted by the picturesqueness of this place. This choice caused certain inconveniences to the builders due to the instability of the soil located next to the water.
A unique technology that had never been used before helped solve the problem. An example of its application in modern construction is the use of piles in the construction of skyscrapers in the UAE.
Construction
Six months after the death of Mumtaz Mahal, the inconsolable husband ordered the construction of the mausoleum to begin. The construction of the Taj Mahal took a total of 12 years, construction work began in 1632. Historians are unanimous that no building in the world required such costs as this one. Fulfilling the will of his deceased wife, according to palace chronicles, cost the padishah approximately 32 million rupees, which is several billion euros these days.
Shah Jahan made sure that the builders did not skimp on materials. The building was faced with the purest marble, which was supplied from the province of Rajasthan. It is interesting that, according to the decree of the ruler of the Mughal Empire, the use of this marble for other purposes was prohibited.
The costs of building the Taj Mahal were so significant that famine broke out in the state. The grain that was supposed to be sent to the provinces ended up at the construction site and was used to feed the workers. The work was completed only in 1643.
Secrets of the Taj Mahal
The majestic Taj Mahal gave immortality to the padishah and his beautiful beloved Mumtaz Mahal. The story of the ruler’s love for his wife is told to all visitors to the mausoleum. Interest in the building cannot be surprising, because it has amazing beauty.
The builders were able to make the Taj Mahal unique thanks to the optical illusions that were used when designing the mausoleum. You can enter the territory of the complex only after passing through the arch of the entrance gate, only then the building opens before the eyes of the guests. To a person who approaches the arch, it may seem that the mausoleum is getting smaller and moving away. is created when moving away from the arch. Thus, every visitor can feel as if he is taking the grand Taj Mahal with him.
A clever technique was also used to create the building’s striking minarets, which appear to be positioned strictly vertically. In reality, these elements are slightly tilted to the sides of the building. This solution helps protect the Taj Mahal from destruction as a result of an earthquake. By the way, the height of the minarets is 42 meters, and the height of the mausoleum as a whole is 74 meters.
To decorate the walls, as already mentioned, a snow-white color shining under the influence of sunlight was used. Decorative elements included malachite, pearls, corals, carnelians, and the elegance of the carving makes an indelible impression.
Mumtaz Mahal burial site
Many people interested in history and architecture know in which city the Taj Mahal is located. However, not everyone knows where exactly the empress’s burial place is located. Her tomb is not located under the main dome of the building erected in her honor. In fact, the burial place of the ruler of the Great Mongol Empire is a secret marble hall, for which an area under the mausoleum was allocated.
It was no coincidence that the Mumtaz Mahal tomb was located in a secret room. This decision was made so that visitors would not disturb the peace of the “pearl of the palace.”
End of story
Having lost his beloved wife, Shah Jahan practically lost interest in power, no longer undertook large-scale military campaigns, and had little interest in the affairs of the state. The empire weakened, was mired in the abyss of an economic crisis, and riots began to break out everywhere. It is not surprising that his son and heir Aurangzeb had loyal supporters who supported him in an attempt to take power from his father and deal with his brother claimants. The old emperor was imprisoned in a fortress, in which he was forced to spend the last years of his life. Shah Jahan left this world in 1666, a lonely and sick old man. The son ordered his father to be buried next to his beloved wife.
The emperor's last wish remained unfulfilled. He dreamed of building another mausoleum opposite the Taj Mahal, exactly repeating its shape, but decorated with black marble. He planned to turn this building into his own tomb; a black and white openwork bridge would connect it to the burial place of his wife. However, the plans were not destined to come true; his son Aurangzeb, who came to power, ordered the construction work to be stopped. Fortunately, the emperor still managed to fulfill the will of his beloved woman and build the Taj Mahal.
The Shah of Iran, who ruled the country for 47 years, was the most educated man in Iran, knew several languages, loved geography, drawing, poetry, and authored books about his travels. At the age of seventeen he inherited the throne, but was able to take power only with the help of weapons. He was an extraordinary person who managed to carry out small, from the point of view of our time, but significant for his time reforms in the country.
As a literate person, he understood that only an educated and developed Iran could exist in this world on an equal basis with other countries. He was a fan of European culture, but realized that the religious fanaticism that was rampant in the country would not allow his dreams to come true.
Nevertheless, a lot was done during his lifetime. A telegraph appeared in Iran, schools began to open, army reform was carried out, a French school was opened, the prototype of a future university, where they studied medicine, chemistry, and geography.
Nasser Qajar Theater
Nasser Qajar knew French perfectly, was familiar with French culture, in particular with the theater, but he was, first of all, the Shah of Iran, a Muslim. Therefore, his dream of a full-fledged theater could not come true. But he, together with Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Naggashbashi, created a state theater, the troupe of which consisted of men. In the photographs of the actors you can see the famous “Iranian princess Anis al Dolyah.” Yes, this is a princess, but not a real one, but performed by a male actor.
The Iranian theater did not perform productions from the life of the people. His satirical repertoire consisted entirely of plays describing court and social life. All roles here were played by men. This is not an isolated case. Remember the Japanese kabuki theater, where only men perform. True, the Japanese actors played in masks, and it was hardly possible to see their fused eyebrows and mustaches. By the way, thick, fused eyebrows among residents of Arab and Central Asian countries have always been considered a sign of beauty, both among women and men.
Founder of Iranian theater
The head of the first state theater was a famous person in Iran, Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Naggashbashi, who is considered the founder of the Iranian theater. All roles were played by men; only after 1917 were women allowed to be actresses and participate in performances.
Old photos
Nasser ad-Din was interested in photography from his youth. He had his own laboratory where he printed photographs with his own hands. He took photographs himself, he had a French photographer who took pictures of him. At the end of the sixties of the 19th century, the Sevryugin brothers opened their studio in Tehran, one of them - Anton - became a court photographer.
The Shah filmed everything, Sevryugin helped him with this. He kept photographs of his wives, intimates, theater artists, his trips, ceremonial meetings, and military operations in the palace safe. After the Iranian revolution, all his archives were declassified, and the photographs fell into the hands of journalists. It is now difficult to say who is shown in these photographs. You shouldn't rely on the Internet. Captions for the same photos on different sites differ radically. Their reliability is highly doubtful.
On one German website, there was an interesting comment on an article about Nasser ad-Din, sent by a resident of Iran. He writes that the khan did not like women, therefore, in order to look like men and thereby please the shah, they painted on mustaches. It is difficult to say how true this is, but this partly explains the clearly male faces in women's clothing and the fact that an outside man (photographer) takes pictures of the khan in a circle of masculine women.
Who is Iranian Princess Anis
Anis al Dolyah is most likely the name of the heroine of a play that was played out with the same characters in various situations (cases from life). Something like modern TV series. Each actor played the same role for many years.
Shah Nasser Qajar had an official wife, Munira Al-Khan, who bore him children, including his heir Mozafereddin Shah. She was from a noble and influential family with considerable power. There is no doubt that the Shah had a harem. But it is now impossible to say for sure who lived in his harem.
Photos of the Shah's concubines
Photos of the Iranian princess al Dolyah and the Shah's concubines posted on the Internet are most likely photographs of theater artists or excerpts from plays. Coming to any theater, we see in its foyer the composition of the troupe in photographs, where we can often see the actors in makeup, that is, excerpts from their roles.
Let's not forget that the Shah was a supporter of everything European, but remained a Muslim dictator who did not tolerate any dissent. Deviation from the norms of the Koran (in this case, photographing women with their faces uncovered) would alienate thousands of his devoted subjects. His enemies, of whom he had plenty, would not fail to take advantage of this. Attempts were made on his life more than once.
The Shah visited many European countries, including Russia. He was delighted with Russian ballet. He couldn’t stage something like that in his country, so he creates a play about it, dressing the Iranian princess Anis (photo below) and other supposedly women in ballet tutus. By the way, the Shah wrote books about his travels, which were published in Europe and Russia. Perhaps he also wrote plays for his theater.
What does the name Anis mean?
Why does the Iranian princess have such a strange name Anis? This is no coincidence; it was under Shah Nasser ad-Din that two religious rebels who dared to admit that the Koran had become obsolete were shot. This is the founder of a new religion called Babism, Baba Seyyid Ali Muhammad Shirazi, as well as his ardent follower and assistant Mirza Muhammad Ali Zunuzi (Anis). There is a legend that during the execution by a detachment of 750 Christians, Baba strangely ended up in his cell, but Anis was not touched by the bullets.
It is the name Anis that the satirical Iranian princess bears. Each time it caused laughter and mockery. By dressing his opponent in women's clothing, which in itself is a disgrace for a Muslim, the Shah took revenge on those who went against the Koran. We do not know the names of the other “inhabitants” of the Shah’s harem, maybe they can also tell a lot. Of course, these are only assumptions; we will never know what really happened.
