Carnelian Seal Set in Gold Ring - OS.108, Origin: Central Asia,
Circa: 17 th Century AD to 18 th Century AD, Collection: Islamic
Art, Style: Safavid, Medium: Carnelian, Gold. The origins of the
Safavid Dynasty can be traced back to the Safaviyeh Sufi order
founded in the early 14th century in the city of Ardabil. From
this base in northwestern Iran, the Safavids would go on to
become the first native Persian dynasty to exert control over
all of Iran since the fall of the Sassanids. Much like the
ethnically diverse country they would rule, the Safavids were of
mixed ancestry, including Kurdish, Greek, Azerbaijani, and
Georgian lines. Although their religious roots were aligned with
the Sunni Sufi order, by the early days of the 15th century, the
Safavids switched sects, establishing the Twelver branch of
Shiism as the official religion of the empire. The adoption of
the Shia faith would have a profound impact on the future of
Iran while bringing them into conflict with their Sunni
neighbors, the Ottomans to th