The Eagle's Nest: Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria (Ismaili Heritage) (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: unglazed water pots, marginal legend, main castle area, Hasan Sabbah, Nevisar Shah, Naser Khosraw (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book brings together the results of a lifetime of investigation by the author into the extraordinary castle-building activities of the Islamic sect the West knew as the Assassins." --Postern

 

"Willey…manages to express the spirit of adventure underlying his missions, the geographical obstacles overcome and the different levels of interaction with the local populations."-- Katia Cytryn-Silverman, Jerusalem Studies in Arabic and Islam

Product Description

Magnificent castles and fortresses in remote, mountainous regions were built for refuge and defensive purposes by the Ismaili Muslims of Iran and Syria fleeing from persecution during the early middle ages. Often superior in construction to those built by the Crusaders, these castles withstood numerous offensives for over two centuries until the middle of the thirteenth century when most were captured and demolished by the Mongols. Peter Willey describes the discoveries he made during the course of more than 20 expeditions to these Ismaili sites spanning the past forty years. The book is illustrated with photographs, maps and plans. As well as being a piece of original scholarship, it is also a readable personal account of the challenges encountered in expeditions to remote, inaccessible and often hazardous locations.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Institute for Ismaili Studies (December 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1850434646
• ISBN-13: 978-1850434641
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,414,350 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)