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Veiled Prophet of Khorassan

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The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan was Hakim ben Allah, surnamed the Veiled (Mokanna), founder of an Arabic sect in the eighth century. Having lost an eye, and being otherwise disfigured in battle, he wore a veil to conceal his face, but his followers said it was done to screen his dazzling brightness. He assumed to be a god, and maintained that he had been Adam, Noah, and other representative men. When encompassed by Sultan Mahadi, he first poisoned all his followers at a banquet, and then threw himself into a burning acid, which wholly destroyed his body.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Vathek
Vatican
Vaudeville
Vaugirard
Vauxhall or Fauxhall
Ve
Veal. Calf
Vedas or Vedams
Vehmgerichte or Holy Vehme Tribunal
Veil
Veiled Prophet of Khorassan
Vendémiaire
Vendetta
Vendredi (French)
Venerable
Vengeur (Le)
Veni, Creator Spiritus
Veni, Sanote Spiritus
Veni, Vidi, Vici
Venial Sin
Venice Glass