The works of Omar Khayyam: poems, quotes, aphorisms and sayings, a short biography and interesting life stories

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The work of the great oriental poet and philosopher Omar Khayyam fascinates with its depth. His biography is mysterious, full of secrets. The image of the poet himself is covered with various legends. His wisdom has come down to us through the centuries, captured in poetry. These works have been translated into many languages. Creativity and works of Omar Khayyam will be discussed in the article.

Childhood and youth

The name of the famous scientist, Persian, Tajik poet and philosopher, known to everyone as Omar Khayyam, does not leave the lips of people and our time. The greatest scientist and philosopher of the East was born in the city of Nishapur, which is currently located in Iran. This event is dated 1048. The great philosopher died in the same city in 1131.

Not much is known about his family. The surname Khayyam means "tent master". Presumably, his father or grandfather had such a profession. According to some reports, he had a younger sister, Aisha.

It is known that at the age of twelve the boy entered the Nishapur madrasah. Here he diligently studied mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. Later, the future poet studied at the madrasas of Balkh, Samarkand and Bukhara. Thanks to his outstanding memory and steady pursuit of knowledge, by the age of seventeen, the young man graduated with honors from a course in Islamic law and medicine, receiving the title of khakim (doctor).

However, medicine did not become his main hobby. The scientist was much more interested in such disciplines as mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. The best works of Omar Khayyam are now included in the school literature curriculum.

Young years

The young scientist has faced many trials. His parents died during one of the countless epidemics that claimed a large number of human lives during the Middle Ages.

After completing the course, the young poet moved to Samarkand, where he got a job as a teacher. This work paid little, but it made it possible to somehow make ends meet. At the same time, the philosopher got the opportunity to do what he loves - science.

It was in Samarkand that the work on the treatise "On the proofs of the problems of algebra and admukabala" was completed. Later, the list of Omar Khayyam's works was supplemented by scientific works "Comments on the difficult postulates of the book of Euclid" and "On the art of determining the amount of gold and silver in a body consisting of them." They characterize the author as an outstanding scientist of his time.

Court career

During the periodDuring his stay as a scientist in Samarkand, he enjoyed the favor and support of the chief judge of this city. Then he was able to win the favor of the Khan of Bukhara.

Besides doing "serious" sciences, he was fond of cooking - he learned to cook, collected and improved old recipes. In 1074, the future great poet was invited to Isfahan as the court nadim of Sultan Malik Shah.

During the next decade, the scientist served at the court as the organizer of magnificent receptions, invented recipes for new dishes for the Shah. The scientist skillfully applied his knowledge, creating new works. So, he developed special tables of astrological nutrition, in which he indicated in detail how and what different signs of the zodiac should eat.

These tables are still used by many astrologers in the East. They are also of interest to modern science. Astrologers around the world now draw their knowledge from ancient texts.

Contribution to the development of astronomy

In addition to his gastronomic activities, the scientist performed the duties of an astronomer at court. Shah instructed him to supervise the construction of an astronomical observatory. Later, the scientist was entrusted to lead this creation of engineering thought.

Melik Shah created a special commission in order to streamline the existing calendar, headed by Khayyam. Under his direct supervision, within the framework of this commission, a calendar of the highest accuracy was developed. This document gives an error of one day for five thousand years, while the modern calendar, which wewe use, gives such an error for 3333 years.

Change of leadership positions in Isfahan led to the closure of the observatory. The scientist moved to Bukhara, where he continued to engage in scientific work and at the same time medical practice.

In 1097, a unique treatise written in Farsi “On the universality of being” comes out from under his pen. The philosophical works of Omar Khayyam characterize him as a consistent supporter of Aristotle and Ibn Sina. However, it was not scientific works that brought him world fame.

Rubai

The list of works by Omar Khayyam, which brought him worldwide fame, includes his quatrains - rubaiyat. The researchers of his work have not been able to establish exactly which of the works attributed to the poet actually came out from under his pen. More or less firmly, you can be sure of 66 rubles, which have come down to us in the most ancient lists.

The works of the great poet and philosopher are strikingly different from traditional Persian poetry. His quatrains, accurate and accurate, like a snake bite, are completely devoid of pretentiousness of images, any "beauties". The best poems of Omar Khayyam are a clear and unambiguous reflection of his philosophical views on life, society, religion and relations between people.

Philosophical meaning of the rubaiyat

The meaning of Omar Khayyam's poems is clearly outlined by traditional symbols. So, for example, grass grows from the ashes of those who left this world. It symbolizes the eternal process of rebirth.matter.

Potter in the workshop is also a special way. The jugs he makes symbolize the relationship between the creator, the world and the individual. The cult of wine is also not accidental. So the poet glorifies the reveler-freethinker, thanks to whom the poet sharply opposes himself to the official religious dogmas that prevail in society.

Last years of life

Of course, such statements by Omar Khayyam, to put it mildly, were not approved by either the secular or, moreover, the church authorities. You could pay with your life for them. In order to somehow protect himself, the poet made a pilgrimage to Mecca, which was supposed to convince the dissatisfied that he had repented.

However, the authorities hardly believed in the sincerity of the actions of the scientist, poet and freethinker. The last years of the life of the great philosopher, the greatest man of his time, passed in solitude. He avoided people, among whom there could always be a spy or a hired killer. It is known that he spent his last hours reading the "Book of Healing" by the famous Avicenna (Ibn Sina), then put it aside, said the last prayer and died.

Poetry style

The poet's works are distinguished by an extremely capacious and concise style, which allows in a concise form of a quatrain to fit such a volume of philosophical thoughts that would be enough for a whole scientific treatise. Omar Khayyam's short poems are notable for their chased, flexible rhythm and simplicity of visual means.

Brevity and naturalness are perhaps the mainthe virtues of the poetry of the scientist and philosopher, making it simple and accessible to the perception of the widest readership. Each person will find something in these chased lines that makes his soul respond to the poet's call, accept his wisdom, and his heart beat in the same rhythm with immortal verses.

Key Ideas

The value of human life, freedom as an inalienable right of the individual, passionate scourging of hypocrisy and hypocrisy - these are the main ideas of the works of the great author. In medieval Persian and Tajik poetry, he is perhaps the only one in whose poems the lyrical hero appears as an autonomous person, independent of God and earthly rulers.

This hero, a rebel and opponent of violence, questions the religious foundations, and the divine-rational structure of the world. The statements of a scientist and artist put him on a par with European humanist philosophers of the 18th century.

On the frailty of human life

All religious and philosophical teachings of that time preach the value of eternal life after death, filled with a series of endless pleasures. They contrast it with earthly life, in which a person is obliged to work and suffer.

Reasonings about the frailty of life are present in many works of the Eastern poet. However, he immediately contradicts himself, continuing to appreciate and love real life. The poet calls to enjoy her every unique moment, despite all her imperfections.

About love and friendship

Perhaps that is why Omar Khayyam associated the best pleasure in life with friendshipand love. Many of the poet's rubaiyat are dedicated to this very topic.

Enjoy life, kiss beauties, be happy here and now, because it is not known what awaits you later. Earthly happiness is fleeting, feel the pricelessness of every moment spent in the arms of your beloved. These are the main appeals to a person that the author makes in his work.

Love is the adornment of life. Friendship fills it with high meaning. The ability to value friendship, respect enemies, choose correctly those who are worthy of being called a friend, not let a low and vile person into your soul is a guarantee that life will be filled with meaning and will not be wasted. This is the main worldly wisdom of the creativity of the Eastern poet and philosopher.

Aphorisms

Clarity, conciseness, clarity of thought and simplicity of form turn almost all poems into aphorisms of Omar Khayyam. Each of his quatrains is the essence, an equation striving for an exact formula, and, therefore, for perfection.

No wonder the work of the famous oriental poet is relevant to this day. He is not only admired, he is quoted, using well-aimed, capacious statements to express his attitude to life in general and to its individual manifestations. Perhaps he is the only poet from the past whose poems continue to be relevant and in demand in the modern world.

However, it should be recognized that not all the quotations circulated in various sources, attributed to this famous author to this day, belong to his pen. The medieval poet has nothing to do with many of them. But thisalready specific features of the modern information field.

Meaning of works

Being a comprehensively gifted, multifaceted creative person, the presented author left an invaluable creative heritage to posterity. His contribution to science as a mathematician, astronomer and philosopher is invaluable. And his poetic talent, combined with the clarity of philosophical thought, gave a truly precious alloy in the form of immortal quatrains, representing a truly unique phenomenon in the world cultural heritage. The work of the great scientist and poet is an invaluable gift that has come to us from the depths of centuries. These are not dead lines of a forgotten past, but a source of wisdom that is still in demand today.

Having considered in general terms the works of Omar Khayyam, we can say that they have not lost their relevance for many centuries. These are truly brilliant works that appeal to the very origins of the human personality, to its aspirations and attitude to life. It is thanks to their sincerity and truthfulness that these ancient lines are relevant to this day.