This scene from Mughal India in the early 17th century depicts Emperor Jahangir weighing his son Prince Khurram against valuable goods, including gold and silver, as part of his 15th birthday celebration. Based on a contemporary painting, Jahangir stands in the centre with the prince, who is seated on a large golden scale; both are dressed in styles typical of Mughal court costume, with necklaces and decorated weapons. In the foreground can be seen a variety of jewel-studded objects, including folded cloths, daggers, and gold jars, while an observer makes note of the proceedings in a book. Weighing ceremonies usually took place outdoors, as with much of Mughal court life, and the precious goods would be distributed to the needy.
The contemporary painting can be found here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1948-1009-0-69
By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 