A literary history of Persia

THE OFFICE OF WAZ/R 257as we have seen, treacherously murdered by al-Mansiir (A.D.754-755), after he himself had, by order of as-SafFah, causedAbu Salama, who first bore the title of /i^/z/r, to beassassinated (A.D. 749-750). Abu'1-Jahm, who succeededhim, was poisoned by his master. Feeling the poison workwithin him, he rose up to leave the room. "Whither away ? "asked the Caliph. " To where thou hast sent me," answeredthe unfortunate minister. 1 His death coincided with the riseto power of the great and noble Persian familyThe rBarmecides.&/of the Barmecides, or descendants of rJarmak,who for fifty years (A.D. 752-804) so wisely directed the affairsof the Caliphate, and, by their generous patronage of learning,lavish hospitality, and wise administration, conferred such lustreupon the reigns of the first five 'AbbAsid tillCaliphs, the insensatejealousy of Kuriinu'r-Rashid led him to destroy Ja'farand al-Fadl, the sons of Yahyi, the son of Khalid, the son ofBarmak, and many members of their family. Barmak, theirancestor, was a Magian, and the high priest of the great Fire-Temple of Nawbahar at Balkh. Mas'udi tells us (Murujudh-Dhabab, iv, 48) that"He who exercised these functions was respected by the kings oftliis country, and administered the wealth offered to the temple.He was called Barmak, a name given to all those invested withthis dignity, whence is derived the name of the Barmecides(Barmaki, pi. Bardmika) ; for Khalid b. Barmak was the son ofone of these great pontiffs."In support of this view that Barmak was really a title ratherthan a name we mayalso cite the words of the geographeral-Qazwini (Athari* l-Bildd t ', pp. 221-222, s.v., Balkh) :"The Persians and Turks used to revere it [the Temple ofNawbahar] and perform pilgrimages to it, and present offerings toit. Its length was one hundred cubits, its breadth the same, and its1 Al-Fakhri (ed. Ahlwardt, pp. 183-4).18