Saturday, March 14, 2009

Omar Khayyam's Quatrains (Rubaiyat)

The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the discovery in Jerusalem of a rare inscription on 12th or 13th century pottery: part of Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat! To read more about this interesting news, please have a look at Dina's photoblog, Jerusalem Hills Daily Photo.

Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat is one of the few books that I've brought with myself to the U.S. from Iran. It was actually a gift from two of my friends, Bahador and Javad, when we met each other for the last time. I hope to see them again. This wonderful book has the English translation of Khayyam's Rubaiyat in addition to the original Persian poems with lots of miniatures all around the book.

I'd like to present this book with all its lovely poems and amazing miniatures to my lovely friend, my dear aunt, Dina, and all her Israeli's and Jewish people. A small gift for her to celebrate the Purim festival. Happy Purim!

Click on photos to enlarge to see the beautiful details of the miniatures.




7 comments:

Dina said...

I am delighted to receive your good wishes, Meead, and the virtual gift of your sumptuous copy of the Rubaiyat. Both the artwork and the calligraphy, so very beautiful!
And thank you for your own translation of the verses on the jug; yours is SO much better than what the IAA supplied.
I added an update in my post linking back to you.
It is so touching how you juxtaposed the poetry and your engineering homework. One must have both in life!

Hilda said...

I have just spent some time reading Dina's post and links and your own (Nishapur in wiki) — even going back to Dina's older gas mask post as she directed. I am woefully ignorant of so much of your region's culture and history and struggles that I cannot comment at all when I read posts like that. All I can do is read and, hopefully, learn a little more. And pray, always.

This, at least I recognize and understand. It is a beautiful book with such rich paintings and textures! I also read the quatrains in the last picture — very visual poetry.

Petrea Burchard said...

Beautiful, beautiful! Meead, you are such a great guy. It shines through your posts and your comments. Thank you.

spacedlaw said...

That's lovely. I am happy to have followed Dina here.

Anonymous said...

I have just returned here from Dina's blog and after reading it and her links there. I admire the beautiful calligraphy in this book. The pictures are stunning.

Anonymous said...

If one looks close enough you can detect that even the paper is embossed. So beautiful. Maybe one day you and Dina will meet up.

J said...

I am having a severe case of book lust! I have been meaning to read this for years...I must actually open the copy on my bookshelf when I get home this summer.