Mahmud of Ghazna and the fallen idol in the temple, Folio from a manuscript of Nigaristan

Author: Ahmad

1573-74 CE/980 AH/AH 980

Ink, opaque watercolour, and gold on paper

Aga Khan Museum

A group of men in a room with patterned walls and floors. One man is drawing a bow and arrow, while others gesture and observe. An inverted figure is depicted in the upper section. A group of men in a room with patterned walls and floors. One man is drawing a bow and arrow, while others gesture and observe. An inverted figure is depicted in the upper section. Further Reading Here, two groups gather together to point at three figures painted on the wall behind them. The central figure appears to float. Text boxes above and below the scene tell of the Ghaznavid ruler, Mahmud (r. 998–1030), who entered a temple where an idol was floating in the air in an upright position. Mahmud asked for an explanation for this oddity, and was told that the statue was made of a magnetic stone while the temple walls were made of