Būyid art and architecture - Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE
[Article]
Blair, Sheila S.
Leiden
Brill
(1,661 words)
The Būyids (or Buwayhids, r. 320-454/932-1062) were an Iranian dynasty who, despite-or perhaps because of-their rough-and-tumble origins, became great patrons who purposefully underwrote art and architecture to enhance their image. As with their assumption of the title shāhanshāh ("king of kings"), they used art to proclaim themselves heirs to the pre-Islamic tradition of kingship in Iran. Little remains of their art, however, so scholars have to piece together work done under their patronage from texts, a few archaeological investigations, and a larger