![1330 (ca.), [Iran], Ardashir and his vizier [folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama] -- National Museum of Asian Art (Washington) | by R.M.Lenox](http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54160222751_0f74860e1d.jpg)
1330 (ca.), [Iran], Ardashir and his vizier [folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama] -- National Museum of Asian Art (Washington)
From the museum label: King Ardashir orders his vizier to execute his wife, the queen, even though she is pregnant. The vizier disobeys and secretly looks after her instead. To avoid being accused of having fathered the disgraced queen's child, the vizier emasculates himself and places the severed parts in a round sealed box, depositing it in Ardashir's treasury. After the king's heir, Shapur, is born, the vizier eventually reveals the truth. The Ilkhanids, like the Sasanians, relied heavily on Persian advisers and administrators, some of whom became immensely powerful, like Rashid al-Din (died 1318), who served both Ghazan and Uljaytu.
1330 (ca.), [Iran], Ardashir and his vizier [folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama] -- National Museum of Asian Art (Washington)
From the museum label: King Ardashir orders his vizier to execute his wife, the queen, even though she is pregnant. The vizier disobeys and secretly looks after her instead. To avoid being accused of having fathered the disgraced queen's child, the vizier emasculates himself and places the severed parts in a round sealed box, depositing it in Ardashir's treasury. After the king's heir, Shapur, is born, the vizier eventually reveals the truth. The Ilkhanids, like the Sasanians, relied heavily on Persian advisers and administrators, some of whom became immensely powerful, like Rashid al-Din (died 1318), who served both Ghazan and Uljaytu.