persia

Interesting...these look a lot like how imams/clerics in Iran dress nowadays (e.g. M. Khatami, who is running for office in June, I believe).

The majority of individuals in this photography are Shia Muslim clerics/imams. Omar your assesment is correct as this is the typical garb worn in Iran by the religous scholars. One will note that some of the individuals are wearing black turbans and some are wearing white. The black turbans are a distinction among the scholars as who is a decendent of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through his daughter Lady Fatimah Zahra (as). Of the taller individuals in the back wearing fezes, we can make some assumptions that they are either non-clerical individuals or they are Sunni Muslims who are clerics. One last comment and hopefully someone can confirm its autheticity, is this photograph was taken at the time of a academic and scholarly debate between the 2 main sects in Islam in the city of Peshawar, Pakistan. The debates themselves were documented in a book known as Peshawar Nights. In a very old copy I have, I found a print of this very picture in that book which is why I believe this picture was taken at that time.

shakir farheen Shakir - That is fascinating! Thanks for the info. I wonder if that book is available for purchase anywhere in English? I'd love to get my hands on a copy.

Br. Omar - It is an interesting book for anyone who enjoys the freedom of intellectual debate. The book is available online for free, however if you wish to purchase it I included a link from Amazon as well below. The version I have is a very old copy so not sure if the new versions have the picture in it or not. [html] www.al-islam.org/peshawar/toc.html [PDF] www.e-resaneh.com/articlefiles/202105819.pdf [Paperback] www.amazon.com/Peshawar-Nights-Islam-Sunni-sources/dp/B00...

is it national football team of Qom city ? :-)

I think the fez-wearing man is here, meaning that it is probably Tailteann Games dignitaries again:

Some overlaps with this group? (Or am I just being swayed by the fez?) www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/18426438103/ [EDIT: Snap Sharon Corbet :) ]

guliolopez At least we have notes back this time!

The account of the opening of the Tailteann Games in the London Times on Monday, Aug 04, 1924 says

Mr Healy was accompanied by Sir John and Lady Lavery, and with him in the stand were Mr. Compton MacKenzie, Mr Augustus John, Mr G K Chesterton, Mr John MacCormack and Sir Edwin Lutyens, and a number of representative foreigners.

Is that Augustus John third from left on the back row, with his best side towards the camera as in the Time cover? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_John#/media/File:Time-maga... I'm not so sure now. [edit; I'm convinced it isn't him, but the picture of him in the London Times at the even's garden party has his head at exactly the same angle]

"but what else do we know about them?" It is conspicuous, they are having a good time.

Amazing detail!

Wonderful colours. It looks great :)

amazing

How beautiful it is. Stunning.

That's great. Thank you for sharing.