Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2021 June 14

= June 14 =

Silver Doors of the Taj Mahal
Hey, I do so hope I'm doing this correctly. I've just recently come across the idea that, upon his capture of Agra in 1761, Surajmal stole and/or melted down the silver doors of the Taj Mahal. Said story can be found all over the web, though sadly, as far as I could see, always without citing even a single source. Wikipedia, as far as I'm aware, does not mention anything of the like in its english article on the Taj Mahal, though the spanish article includes the sentence "However, other elements were lost over the centuries, among them the silver gates of the access fort" (as translated by google), notably without any reference to Surajmal and, frustratingly, without citing any source. My question, then, is of course what did happen to the doors (if there ever were any), and perhaps where the story about Surajmal looting them (if it is untrue) originated. Many thanks --AFlyingTurtleMan (talk) 11:13, 14 June 2021 (UTC)
 * This seems reasonably reliable (UCLA) and gives two generic sources that I couldn't check (Tadgell is on gbooks, but searching didn't help). Personuser (talk) 12:30, 14 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Much appreciated! --AFlyingTurtleMan (talk) 12:42, 14 June 2021 (UTC)


 * It is mentioned – without citing a source – in the recently created article Capture of Agra Fort. --Lambiam 16:44, 14 June 2021 (UTC)


 * Here is an 1892 book source. --Lambiam 17:04, 14 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Also A Handbook to Agra and the Taj, 1904 “The Taj also possessed formerly two wonderful silver doors…These silver doors were looted and melted down by the Jâts in 1764.” And The Taj Mahal, 2003 “Gates of solid silver guarded the entrance.” 70.67.193.176 (talk) 17:16, 14 June 2021 (UTC)
 * The article on the capture of Agra Fort is indeed one of the occasions I've seen it online in uncited form. Thank you all a lot! That's a bunch of decent sources.

Sankey Commission reports
Could anyone point me to an online text of the Second Stage reports of the Sankey Commission please? DuncanHill (talk) 22:05, 14 June 2021 (UTC)


 * Is this it? 70.67.193.176 (talk) 13:48, 15 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Not only is it it, it's also more than I asked for and in a good way! Many thanks, DuncanHill (talk) 15:08, 15 June 2021 (UTC)

Merkit masks in Mongol
In Mongol (film) there are some scenes like this in which the evil Merkits wear full-face fur masks in their attacks. Even Temujin wears one when infiltrating the Merkit camp. Is there a historical basis for these masks? What was their purpose beyond looking interesting in film? The mask in Mongolian armour is quite different. --Error (talk) 23:33, 14 June 2021 (UTC)


 * I only found a Mongolian or Tibetan iron war mask (12th–14th century) which is "one of only two known masks of this type". These Mongol warriors seem to prefer the barefaced look. Alansplodge (talk) 10:22, 15 June 2021 (UTC)
 * The mask is the same one that is in Mongolian armour. I have added text about its rarity with your link as reference. As the Met says and you can see in Commons, Mongols use masks for rituals but I see nothing about fur masks. I guessed it could have been added by the film team inspired by another people. Or maybe it is a cold protection device. --Error (talk) 10:39, 15 June 2021 (UTC)
 * Merkits wore Merkins? ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 13:11, 15 June 2021 (UTC)


 * Mention of fur used for an unusual item of clothing reminds me of the famous glass, or fur, slipper of Cinderella. The verre/vair homonymous confusion was examined by Snopes, but Language Log disagreed and dug further . I wonder if the Mongol filmmakers were relying on a mistranslated source? Although I tend to agree with the OP that the likeliest explanation is simply cinematic splendour. Carbon Caryatid (talk) 11:02, 17 June 2021 (UTC)