Dimneh is Brought before the Lion-King and his Mother
Dimneh is Brought before the Lion-King and his Mother
Fol. 113r from a manuscript of Anvar-i Suhayli
Attributed to Sadiqi Beg (d. 1610)
Iran, Qazvin (?), 1593
Watercolours, gold, silver, and ink on paper
AKM289
Throughout history, the mothers of rulers have played important roles as royal counsellors and supervisors of a court’s inner workings. The wise advice of one such Queen Mother is captured in this illustration from the tale of the jackal brothers, Kalileh and Dimneh. In a quest for prominence at the Lion-King’s court, the ambitious Dimneh resolves to destroy his perceived rival and close friend of the king, Shanzabeh the Ox, by sowing mistrust between them. The Lion-King kills his friend, but soon regrets this act. The Queen Mother learns of Dimneh’s treachery and reveals the plot to her son. As illustrated here, the Lion-King brings Dimneh to a court assembly, where he is interrogated and sentenced to prison.