Historian: Marco Polo exports Iranian horses

An Iranian historian has depicted historical paintings of the 14th century, talking about Italian merchant and explorer Marco Polo on the Iranian Island of Hormuz.

In ifilm’s show ‘Cinema vs. History’, the famous Iranian historian, Khosrow Motazed, has reviewed the French movie ‘Marco the Magnificent’ (La Fabuleuse Aventure de Marco Polo) (1965) directed by Denys de La Patellière and Noël Howard.

The historian explores the movie from a historical point of view and shows paintings that depict Marco Polo and his uncles reaching Iran’s Hormuz Island (The Straits of Hormuz).

The paintings and the presence of Marco Polo in the region show that Iran has been an attractive place for both foreign and domestic merchants, businessmen, explorers, and travelers.

Besides, the paintings contain images that show the importance of Iranian goods for other countries.

The exchange of baby elephants and horses between Iran and India depicts Iran’s high ranking status in commerce since centuries ago.

 ‘Marco the Magnificent’ tells the story of the young Marco, son of a family of Venetian traders, who went to Beijing to meet the Mongol Emperor Kubilai Khan and conveyed a message of understanding to Pope Gregory X, representative of the Christian West.

Marco ensures the emperor's longevity by foiling attempts to usurp his throne by becoming, informally, his ambassador in some Asian countries.

MG/AG