A Prince Visits a Dervish
A Prince Visits a Dervish
Fol. 23v from a manuscript of the Divan of Sultan Ibrahim Mirza (pen-named Jahi)
Iran, Qazvin, 1582–1583
Opaque watercolour, gold, and ink on paper
AKM282.23
With its depiction of an elder mystic greeting a crowned guest at the entrance of his cave sanctuary, this illustration references the Persian literary theme of shah o geda, or “king and dervish,” juxtaposing royal affairs with spiritual interests. Poetic tales about this subject often tell of kings who undertake journeys to the isolated retreats of pirs (spiritual guides), seeking enlightenment. Their pairing is often likened to the quest of a lover for his beloved. In the lyric poem illustrated here, Sultan Ibrahim Mirza acknowledges his own search for enlightenment: “Jahi! I have been consumed. King of the land of poverty! / Whatever I have, it’s all from the endeavours of dervishes.”