Page 29 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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Azerbaijani carpets / TABRIZ GROUP
The composition of the carpet consists of a middle field and border. On the right and left sides of the central field there
are ketebes with Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat (quatrains) written in “nastaligh” (Arabic calligraphy). In the scenes inside
the “gulla” (towers), Omar Khayyam is depicted sitting under a tree. In front of him there is a jug and a book with the
name “Khayyam” written in the Arabic alphabet. The figure of two embracing lovers is seen in the smoke rising out of
the jug.
Omar Khayyam (1048-after 1122) was born in the city of Nishapur in Khorasan. After leaving Nishapur at a young age,
he settled in Samarkand following a time of troubles. In 1074, he was invited to Isfahan to head the observatory there.
In 1092 he was obliged to leave Isfahan after the death of his protectors, Seljuk Sultan Malik-Shah and vizier Nizam al-
Mulk. Khayyam worked in the palace of one of the heirs of Malik-Shah for a period of time, but his desire to found a new
observatory did not come to pass.
Omar Khayyam was famous both in the East and especially in the West for his Rubaiyat full of wisdom, humor, and
satire, which sometimes stretch the limits of politeness.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, which was forgotten for a long time in the East, resurfaced through Edward Fitzger-
ald’s translations in Europe and gained incredible success.
Omar Khayyam was also one of the greatest mathematicians of all times; in his Treatise on the Demonstration of the
Problems of Algebra, he greatly contributed to the growth of mathematics. In this work, for the first time, Khayyam used
a geometric method to solve cubic equations by intersecting a hyperbola with a circle. He is also claimed to have intro-
duced the theory of a heliocentric Solar System long before Copernicus.
Khayyam never got married; he led a secluded life. He always lived with the constant fear of persecution from clergy-
men who never understood him or who failed to understand him.
In the last moments of his life, he attentively read Ibn Sina’s “Shafa Kitabi” (Book of Cures). When he reached “Tek ve
Jam” (Singular and Plural), he stopped reading, marking the last page, and called upon the necessary people to draw up
his will. He fasted the entire day. After the evening “namaz” (prayer), he bowed a “sajda” (bow) and said: “Dear God,
you know, I have perceived you as far as I could. Forgive me; all my thoughts are my services rendered to you.” These
were his last words.
Omar Khayyam would tell his relatives: “My grave will be in such a place where the breeze blowing in spring will scat-
ter flowers on it.” This reality came to pass. The flowering branches of the apple and pear tree of the neighboring orchard
hang over the cemetery’s fence and cover the great thinker’s grave like an umbrella.
During his scientific activities in Isfahan, Omar Khayyam dealt with philosophic problems as well. He attentively stud-
ied Ibn Sina’s scientific legacy and translated several of his works fromArabic into Persian. Omar Khayyam’s first philo-
sophic work, “A treatise about existence and necessity,” was written in 1080. His scientific and philosophic legacy is not
very large, but his treatises touched upon various problems of philosophy. In his writings, Khayyam preferred compact-
ness, using few words to express clear thoughts. For this reason, most of his works are laconic, sometimes consisting of
only several pages.
Don’t think of it as a mud for
the handle you see
It may be an arm thrown
round a beauty.
As I see, this lover is
chained
By a beautiful long-haired
lady like I am
In the left corner of the main border surrounding the middle field, Hadji Unsuri is
depicted. Hadji Unsuri was one of the poets in Sultan Mahmud’s palace (Mahmud
was the founder of Abulgasim Hassan Ibn Ahmed Balkhi Ghaznavid state). Most of
Unsuri’s poems were devoted to Sultan Mahmud.
Before presenting his works to the sultan, Unsuri would evaluate them first. He
possessed a great a wealth beside Sultan Mahmud. Unsuri used to escort the Sultan
in all journeys. His “Collection of poems”, consisting of 2000 couplets and several
other couplets, remain available today.