Exaggerated Behaviors in the Court of Mas'ud of Ghazni Based on Tarikh-e Beyhaqi

Abstract

Tarikh-e Bayhaqi is one of the most prominent works of Persian prose that, beyond its linguistic and narrative values, reflects the power relations and courtly behaviors of the Ghaznavid era. Among the notable aspects of this work is the presence of behaviors and actions imbued with exaggerated and hyperbolic meanings, which are manifested in the court of Sultan Mas'ud of Ghazni and function symbolically in consolidating the grandeur and superiority of the Sultan.

The present study aims to elucidate the nature, types, and functions of exaggerated behaviors in Mas'ud’s court and to analyze their relationship with the structure of power. Adopting a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on the study of a primary source—particularly Tarikh-e Bayhaqi—this article examines and classifies exaggerated courtly behaviors based on textual evidence from the work.

The findings indicate that ritualistic and physical actions such as kissing the ground, hand-kissing, bowing, and stepping down from one’s position served to reinforce the symbolic distance between the Sultan and others. Furthermore, the atmosphere of competition, mistrust, and political fear within the court contributed to the intensification and repetition of such behaviors.

Accordingly, exaggerated behaviors can be understood as part of the mechanisms for reproducing authority and regulating hierarchical power structures in 11th-century Khurasan, thereby enabling an analytical and interdisciplinary reading of Tarikh-e Bayhaqi.