Thousands of Historical and Unseen Photos of Persia Leaked Online
An anonymous hacker has leaked thousands of photos showing what Iran was like under the Qajar dynasty in the 19th century.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports that the photographs come from the archive of Tehran’s Golestan Palace with Iranian authorities apparently unhappy about the leak.
![A black-and-white photo depicts a group of men in traditional attire standing in front of a brick building. The central figure, bound by chains around his waist, is flanked by two stern-looking men holding staffs. More men stand in the background, partially visible.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-4e2c-08dc8a2811b1_w1080_h608_b_s-copy.jpg)
A Google Drive folder with the valuable archive was uploaded online allowing Iranians and global citizens a peek at what the country was like in the 19th-century when it was still widely known as Persia.
A historian tells RFE/RL that the authorities in Iran make it difficult for general members of the public to access these photos. “It’s as if they were trying to keep them as far from the public eye as possible,” Hamidreza Hossein tells the American radio station.
![A black-and-white image shows a group of six men playing a game of chess outdoors. They are dressed in traditional Persian attire with tall hats. The men are seated on the ground, focused on the chessboard. Tents and trees are visible in the background.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-52ce-08dc8a1cd0f1_w1080_h608_b_s-copy-800x546.jpg)
![An old, black-and-white photograph shows the head of a man, with a long beard, partially buried in sand. The surroundings suggest a sandy outdoor environment. The photograph exudes a historical or vintage atmosphere.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-296a-08dc8a1cd963_w1080_h608_b_s-copy-800x548.jpg)
![A black-and-white photograph of a woman posed with her arms raised, holding fabric above her head. A blue smudge covers part of her chest, and an oblong paper partially obscures the lower part of the image. Background shows a patterned fabric.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-6d63-08dc8a1d128c_w1080_h608_b_s-copy.jpg)
An online news portal in Iran called the anonymous hacker a “scumbag” while also criticizing Golestan Palace for its lax security.
“In all countries, publishing a museum’s treasure without permission is criminal in nature,” says Hadi Mirzaeri, the director general of the museums of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
However, after criticism that the archive was not available to the public, RFE/RL reports that Golestan Palace management announced that it would be publishing the photographs themselves imminently.
![A historical black-and-white photo showing six children standing in a line. They are dressed in traditional Persian clothing, including long coats and tall hats. The children vary in height, with the tallest child standing in the center.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-b3af-08dc8a1cf257_w1080_h608_b_s-copy-800x539.jpg)
![Black and white aerial view of a historic city along a waterfront, filled with numerous buildings, mosques with minarets, and many ships in the harbor. The cityscape extends to the distant hills, showcasing dense urban architecture and bustling maritime activity.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-2218-08dc8a1cf137_w1080_h608_b_s-copy-800x586.jpg)
A Photography Shah
One of the Iranian Shahs, Naser al-Din, of the Qajar Dynasty was a patron of photography and many of the images in the archive feature him and were possibly shot by him as well.
Naser al-Din Shah reigned from 1848 until his assassination in 1896; a crucial period in the history of photography. He set up a photography studio and would often take the portraits of members of his court. The shah also traveled extensively — taking photographs of Tbilisi and Istanbul.
![A sepia-toned portrait of a man with a thick mustache, wearing a traditional dark hat with an embroidered emblem and a uniform decorated with various medals and adornments. He has a serious expression and looks directly at the camera.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/Naser_al-Din_Shah_Qajar_close_up_with_slight_smile_by_Nadar-610x800.jpg)
![A historical black-and-white photograph depicting a man dressed in traditional Persian attire seated in a grand, ornate room. Another man, in light-colored clothing, is standing close to him, seemingly brushing or grooming his mustache. Three attendants in similar traditional attire stand nearby.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-1c3e-08dc8a1cd8c8_w1080_h608_b_s-copy-800x606.jpg)
![A historical photograph shows a person dressed in elaborate, traditional clothing with intricate patterns and details. The person has a serious expression and sits with one hand on their stomach. The image has a vintage, black-and-white look.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2024/06/01000000-0aff-0242-12ca-08dc8a1d128a_w1080_h608_b_s-copy.jpg)
Image credits: Golestan Palace via RFE/RL.