Omar Khayyám

Easton Press Omar Khayyám books

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám - 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1976

Franklin Library Omar Khayyám books

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám - World's Best Loved Books (translated by Edward Fitzgerald) - 1979

 

Omar Khayyám biography

Omar Khayyám, born on May 18, 1048, in Nishapur, Persia (present-day Iran), was a polymathic Persian scholar whose legacy transcends disciplines. He is best known as a mathematician, astronomer, and poet, whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the fields of science, literature, and philosophy. Khayyám's early years were marked by a thirst for knowledge and a precocious intellect. He received a comprehensive education in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and literature, studying under some of the leading scholars of his time. On the accession as sultan of Jalal ad Din Malik Shah, Omar Khayyám received the appointment of astronomer royal to the court.

As a mathematician, Khayyám made significant contributions to algebra and geometry. He is perhaps best known for his work on solving cubic equations, for which he developed a geometric method that laid the groundwork for later advancements in the field of algebra.

In the field of astronomy, Khayyám's observations and calculations were ahead of his time. He accurately determined the length of the solar year to within minutes, devised a new calendar, and made important contributions to the study of planetary motion.

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Khayyám was also a gifted poet. He is best known for his collection of quatrains, or "rubaiyat," which explore themes of love, mortality, and the search for meaning in a transient world. Khayyám's poetry is celebrated for its lyrical beauty, philosophical depth, and profound insights into the human condition. Despite his achievements, Khayyám's work was not widely recognized during his lifetime. It was only in the centuries following his death that his contributions to science and literature began to receive the recognition they deserved.

He also wrote three different books on subjects of natural science and three books on metaphysics.

Today, Omar Khayyám is celebrated as one of the greatest scholars and poets of the Islamic Golden Age. His legacy lives on through his mathematical theorems, astronomical discoveries, and timeless poetry, which continue to inspire and captivate readers around the world. Khayyám's life and work serve as a testament to the power of human intellect, creativity, and curiosity to transcend boundaries and leave a lasting impact on humanity.

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám is a collection of quatrains, or four-line verses, attributed to the Persian poet, mathematician, and philosopher Omar Khayyám. Although the exact origins and authorship of the poems are shrouded in mystery, they are widely believed to have been penned by Khayyám during the 11th century. The quatrains explore a wide range of themes, including love, mortality, the passage of time, and the search for meaning in a transient world. Khayyám's poetry is characterized by its lyrical beauty, philosophical depth, and profound insights into the human condition.

The Rubaiyat gained widespread popularity in the West in the 19th century, following the translation of the poems into English by the British poet Edward FitzGerald. FitzGerald's translation, first published in 1859, introduced Khayyám's verses to a Western audience and sparked a renewed interest in Persian literature and philosophy. Since then, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám has been translated into numerous languages and has inspired countless readers with its timeless wisdom and universal appeal. The poems continue to be celebrated for their lyrical elegance, intellectual sophistication, and timeless relevance to the human experience.

Edward Fitzgerald was the first to introduce Omar Khayyam to the Western World through a version of 100 of the Rubaiyat quatrains. The version is indeed a paraphrase, yet often very close, and reflects with great accuracy the spirit of the original Rubaiyat. About 1000 of these four line stanzas are found, in different books and manuscripts attributed to him.

While the true authorship of the Rubaiyat remains a subject of scholarly debate, its enduring popularity and influence attest to the enduring power of Khayyám's poetry to captivate and inspire readers across cultures and generations.