Today is the the 961st birthday anniversary and national day of an eminent Persian poet, astronomer and mathematician, Omar Khayyam of Neyshabur. Iranians are holding ceremonies today in Khayyam's hometown Neyshabour, located in the northeastern province of Khorasan that honor the Persian poet.
This is Khayyam's tomb and memorial. The unique structure represents a symmetric mathematical form (better to say geometrical) with some of his poems written (calligraphiated) on its surface.
Khayyam's fame as a poet has caused some to ignore his scientific achievements, which are significant. His contributions to mathematical include his Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra, which gives a geometric method for solving cubic equations by allowing a hyperbola to intersect a circle. Following are some of his major works:
- Theory of parallels
- Geometric Algebra
- Binomial theorem and extraction of roots
- Jalali Calendar
When once you hear the roses are in bloom,
Then is the time, my love, to pour the wine,
Houris and palaces and Heaven and Hell,
These are but fairy-tales, forget them all
Drink wine, for long you'll sleep beneath the soil,
Without companion, lover, friend or mate,
But keep this sorry secret to yourself:
The withered tulip never blooms again.
Then is the time, my love, to pour the wine,
Houris and palaces and Heaven and Hell,
These are but fairy-tales, forget them all
Drink wine, for long you'll sleep beneath the soil,
Without companion, lover, friend or mate,
But keep this sorry secret to yourself:
The withered tulip never blooms again.
5 comments:
Happy birthday, Omar Khayyam!
I'm sure he would enjoy these awesome structure that honor him.
Here is another quote from Omar Khayyam that I like: “My friend, let's not think of tomorrow, but let's enjoy this fleeting moment of life”. So many people constantly think about what they are going to do in the future, they don’t realize that life is passing by today. On another note, when I came from Europe to the USA, one of the first person who was very nice to me was George Mardikian who had a restaurant in San Francisco called “Omar Khayyam’s” and the food was delicious
Super post, Meead. Thanks!
Vagabonde pointed me in the direction of your Omar Khayyam tribute. I also posted a mention of his birthday on my blog and added one of my favourite passages from the Rubaiyat
Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough,
A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse - And Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness -
And Wilderness is Paradise enow.
What a beautiful and unusual building.
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