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Rubaiyat:History?s most luxurious book of poetry
sgtdjones
2018-01-20 21:55:21
The Rubaiyat: History’s most luxurious book of poetry?
In 1909, two London bookbinders were commissioned to create a book that would become one of the most bedazzling the world had beheld. Joobin Bekhrad reveals how it ended up at the bottom of the Atlantic – and how it still influences today.
“When the Titanic went down on the night of April 14 1912 in the sea off the New World, its most eminent victim was a book…” French-Lebanese author Amin Maalouf may have been stretching it a bit in his 1988 historical novel Samarkand.
It was this very real manuscript that served as the inspiration for Maalouf’s acclaimed novel. “At the bottom of the Atlantic there is a book,” he writes in its introduction. “I am going to tell you its history.”
Link Text
sgtdjones
2018-01-20 21:56:15
Over 1000 precious and semi-precious stones – rubies, turquoises, emeralds, and others – were used in its making, as well as 600 sheets of 22-karat gold leaf
The writer GK Chesterton claimed that the Rubáiyát was the Bible of the ‘carpe diem religion’
Oscar Wilde described the Rubáiyát as a “masterpiece of art”, placing it alongside Shakespeare’s sonnets as one of his greatest literary loves
pelon
2018-01-21 02:47:50
In reply to sgtdjones
Great read, intersting historical tidbit, thanks for that.
How swiftly does this caravan of life pass;
Seek thou the moment that with joy does lapse.
Saghi, why lament tomorrow’s misfortunes today?
Bring forth the chalice, for the night shall pass.
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 11:46:20
In reply to pelon
I love that quotation above.
I got a few more that I will paste later.
How is the new year treating you?.
The cold in Canada is affecting shipping more stuff
Will PM you shortly for an address.
Be well
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 13:34:46
No base or light-weight coins pass current here,
Of such a brobm has swept our dwelling clear;
Forth from the tavern comes a sage and cries,
Drink ! for ye all must sleep through ages drear
Meaning, Mullahs' fables will not go down with us
The Rubaiyat
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 13:37:57
Jewry hath seen a thousand prophets die,
Sinai a thousand Musas mount the sky;
How many Caesars Rome's proud forum crossed!
'Neath Kasra's dome how many monarchs
Meaning, Time is long and life short
The Rubaiyat
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 13:40:49
The hands of fate play our game
We the players are given a name
Some are tame, others gain fame
Yet in the end, we're all the same.
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
The Astronomer- Mathematician- Poet of Persia.
His Full Name: Ghiyath al-Din Abul Fateh Omar Ibn Ibrahim Khayyam
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 14:09:49
My coming brought no profit to the sky,
Nor does my going swell its majesty;
Coming and going put me to a stand,
Ear never heard their wherefore nor their why.
Voltaire has some similar lines in his poem
on the Lisbon earthquake
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 14:14:15
Slaves of vain wisdom and philosophy,
Who toil at Being and Nonentity,
Parching your brains till they are like dry grapes
Be wise in time, and drink grape-juice, like me!
Meaning, The Vanity of learning
mikesiva
2018-01-21 15:10:11
In reply to sgtdjones
My favourite from my teenage years. ...
Tis all a checkerboard of nights and days
Where destiny with men for pieces plays
Hither and thither it moves and mates and slays
One by one back in the closet lays.
Chrissy
2018-01-21 16:57:42
Love it - own a copy.
Nice post 
sgtdjones
2018-01-21 18:32:33
In reply to Chrissy
When I post stuff like this you are the first
to respond. You must have been busy.
