THE TWO PRIZED POSSESSIONS OF THE SULTAN OF HERAT
KAMAL UD DIN BEHZAD MUSSAWAR AND KATIB MIR ALI SULTANI

When war broke out in Herat, the Sultan assembled a council of Ministers, to advise him of his most precious treasure. He was told that everything could be replaced with time but there were no substitute for the painter Kamal ud din Behzad and the calligrapher Mir Ali. The Sultan saved them in a mountain for years. Later on, when Timur invaded Herat, he knew about this treasure and abducted both Behzad and Mir Ali back to Central Asia. Attached is a calligraphy by Mir Ali done in Bokhara after the abduction by Timur. A masterpiece painting by Behzad. Vicious circumstances, ruthless behaviour, but love and respect for Culture there. This is the story of Islamic Civilization!