[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Akbar (1556–1605)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar) › [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama) › [The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge) › 8.5 # The Book of Akbar 8.5 The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 8.5 - **Language:** English ### [8.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.8.5) 786) defines shamsa as a round ornament or little ball in the shape of the Sun; he also says it is described as a sun-shaped button, by means of which a door is opened. It may apparently mean also a curtain or parasol. I think the shamsa-i-peshtāq in the passage before us, means in part, the solar images which were set up at the entrance-gates of royal palaces and here, we may quote the words of Quintus Curtius (III. Cap. 7) noticed in Hyde’s “Religion of the Ancient Persians.” “Super tabernaculum unde ab omnibus conspici posset, imago solis crystallo inclusa fulgebat.” Perhaps, however, this rather refers to the ākāsdīya. (Blochmann 50). The following extract from Kaempfer’s Amoenitates Exoticae, (Fasciculus V. 199), gives a nobler idea of the Shamsa than Mr. Blochmann’s description. Kaempfer is describing the Gynaeceum Regium or Female Apartments of the Palace at Ispahan. - [Previous: 8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.8.4) - [Next: 8.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.8.6) - [Up: 8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.8.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.8.5) · Pramāṇa