“It is not power that rules, for power is, in the long run, neither strong nor holy. It is the rich warmth of human emotions, friendship and respect for others that builds and sustains.”
Peter Willey
Eagle’s Nest, Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria
“Charting the discoveries he made during the course of more than twenty expeditions, over the last forty years, Willey shows that – in contrast to the lurid tales of ‘hashish-crazed assassins’ – the Ismailis were people of exceptional intelligence and sophistication, who in these remote mountain fortresses were able to cultivate a rich intellectual and spiritual life…The very opposite of the ‘assassins’ of popular imagination, their architectural, intellectual, agricultural and military achievements in many respects surpass those of the Crusaders.”
Extracts from the front flap, Eagle’s Nest, Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria
“Whenever I travelled in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, I have taken the opportunity to meet Ismailis of all classes and conditions, and I have been struck by their practical idealism and intelligent approach to the problems of modern life. They are singularly devoted to their Imam, whose guidance touches upon virtually every aspect of their worldly and spiritual lives….They place great importance on humanitarian and development projects in the Third World, which they regard as a fundamental aspect of their faith. These projects are implemenetd through an impressive number of development agencies, institutions and porgrammes grouped under the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN constitutes, in fact, the world’s largest private philanthropic organisation. Its services are not restricted to the Ismailis but made available to all people in the poorest parts of the world, especially Asia and Africa, regardless of their origin or faith.
The present Aga Khan is anxious to demonstrate that Islam has contributed and continues to enrich the intellectual and cultural heritage of the world.
Above all, I have learned the power of faith, of faith that is genuine and sincere and which is used to benefit humanity. Faith and truth should be the keystones of our lives, as should justice and our duty to protect and help the poor and needy.”
Extracts from Epilogue, Eagle’s Nest, Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria, I.B Tauris & Co. Ltd., 2005
Peter Willey (d. 2009) was the world authority on the Ismaili castles of Iran and Syria. He began his archaeological research in 1959 and, over the course of more than twenty expeditions spanning forty years, he identified and documented the ruins of many Ismaili castles. His first book, The Castles of the Assassins, was published in 1963 and also translated into Persian. Besides writing books, Major Willey also contributed articles to The Times, the Geographical Magazine and the Encyclopaedia Iranica, where he wrote about the Nizari Ismaili Monuments in Iran and Syria. His writings are also a rich personal account of the adventures of travelling in remote locations and his interactions with local people.
In Memory of Peter Willey, Authority on Medieval Ismaili Castles, The Institute of Ismaili Studies
Compiled by Nimira Dewji
Ismailimail 