Today we will tell you about a man famous all over the world for his quatrains, which are called "rubai". He is also known for having built a classification of cubic equations in algebra and using conic sections to give their solutions. We will tell you in detail who Omar Khayyam is. In short, this is a Persian philosopher, mathematician, astrologer, astronomer and poet, and in more detail, you should start from his childhood.
The childhood of Omar Khayyam
This great person was born in the city of Nishapur in the family of a tent-keeper. Omar began to be interested in astronomy, philosophy and mathematics at the age of eight, and four years later he became a student of the Nishapur Madrasah. The boy completed an excellent course in medicine and Islamic law and qualified as a doctor, but this profession was not particularly interested in Omar. He began to study the works of the astronomer and mathematician Thabit ibn Kurra, as well as Greek mathematicians.
At the age of sixteen, Khayyam's father and mother died during an epidemic. The young man sold the workshop, the house and went to Samarkand, which at that time was famous as a cultural and scientific center. In Samarkand, he himself became a mentor, after which he moved to Bukhara, where he worked in book depositories and simultaneously wrote treatises on mathematics. During the ten years spent in Bukhara, the scientist wrote four fundamental treatises on mathematics.
In 1074, Omar Khayyam, whose biography is so rich, is already the spiritual mentor of the Sultan, and a couple of years later - the head of the palace observatory. Working in it, Omar became a famous astronomer. Together with other scientists, he developed a solar calendar.
In 1092, when the sultan who patronized Omar died, this period of his life at the court of Melik Shah also ended. Omar was accused of godless freethinking, and the astronomer left the Seljuk capital.
rubaiyat
Most of all, Khayyam is known for his wise, full of humor and insolence quatrains - rubai. They were forgotten on for a long time, but later his work was revived thanks to the translations of Edward Fitzgerald.
Mathematics
In this area, Khayyam also left a significant contribution. He owns the "Treatise on the proofs of problems in algebra and almuqabala". In this work one can find a classification of equations, as well as the solution of equations of the first, second and third degrees.
Astronomy
Khayyam happened to lead a group of astronomers in Isfahan, which developed the solar calendar. Its main purpose is a stricter reference to the beginning of the year and to the spring equinox. The new calendar was named after the Sultan "Jalali". The number of days in the months in this calendar varied depending on how far the sun entered any particular zodiac sign and could be from twenty-nine to thirty-two days.
Name: Omar Khayyam
Age: 83 years old
Place of Birth: Nishapur
A place of death: Nishapur, Iran
Activity: Persian philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and poet
Family status: not married
Omar Khayyam - Biography
Omar Khayyam is a famous astronomer and mathematician, but for every person he more familiar, as a philosopher, whose thoughts fully and deeply reflect the thoughts and feelings of a person. But everyone who quotes this great man wants to know about the philosopher, his exact biography.
Omar Khayyam - childhood
Not much is known about Omar Khayyam, especially about his childhood years. The date of birth of the Persian philosopher is May 18, 1048. The place of his birth was Nishapur, which is located in one of the provinces of Khorasan, which is located in the eastern part of Iran. This city was notable for the fact that very often fairs were held in it, where huge amount peoples, and these were not only residents of Iran, but also foreigners who lived in neighboring countries. It is worth noting that in those ancient times, when the philosopher was born, his hometown of Nishapur was considered the main cultural center of the country.
Omar Khayyam - education
Omar Khayyam received his education in a madrasah, which at that time was considered only a school of the highest and middle type, so not all children were enrolled in it. By the way, the name of the Persian philosopher literally translates as a tent master. And since no facts about his parents were preserved at all, the researchers came to the conclusion that his family members in the male line were engaged in crafts. But, despite this, there was money for the education of his son.
The madrasah where the young philosopher studied belonged to educational institutions for aristocrats. It was believed that such institutions train officials for public service the highest rank. When the training in the madrasah was completed, the parents sent their son first to Samarkand, where he Omar Khayyam continued his studies, and then to Balkh. This education developed the child and gave him tremendous knowledge. He was able to learn the secrets of such sciences as mathematics, astronomy and physics.
The young man himself not only studied diligently, receiving the knowledge that was taught to him in educational institutions, but he also studied some subjects on his own: theosophy, history, philosophy, philology and others. All of them should have been known by an educated person of that time. Special attention he devoted to the rules of versification and Arabic. Ideally, he also studied the art of music. Studied Omar Khayyam and medical business. He not only knew the Koran by heart, but could easily explain any part of it.
Scientific activity of Omar Khayyam
Before finishing his studies, Omar Khayyam became famous smartest person in his own country, and many prominent people began to turn to him for advice. It was a new time for him, which opened new page in his biography. The ideas of the young philosopher were new and unusual. Omar Khayyam made his first discoveries in the mathematical field. Then he was 25 years old. When his work goes out of print, the fame of him as a great scientist spreads throughout the earth. There are also all-powerful patrons for him, since at that time the rulers sought to have scientists and educated minds in their retinue. Omar served at court, delving into his scientific activities.
At first, Omar was awarded the great honor of taking a place of honor next to the prince, but then the rulers changed, but honor to him remained. There is a legend that he was offered to manage his native city and those territories that are located nearby. But he was forced to refuse, because he does not know how to manage people. For his honesty and activity, he was assigned a large salary, which would allow him to continue to engage in science.
Soon Omar Khayyam was asked to manage the observatory, which was located at the palace. The best astronomers in the country were invited to create it, and he allocated a lot of money so that scientists could purchase equipment. They created a calendar that is somewhat similar to the modern one. Omar was engaged in both astrology and mathematics. It belongs to him modern classification equations.
The scientist was also interested in philosophy. First, he translated those philosophical works that had already been created. And then, in 1080, he writes his first treatise. Khayyam did not deny the existence of God, but said that any order of things is subject to natural law. But Omar could not say such conclusions openly in his writings, as this was contrary to the Muslim religion. But in poetry, he could speak more boldly. He has been writing poetry all his life.
Omar Khayyam - last days, death
After the death of the Sultan, Khayyam's position at the palace worsened. But the trust was completely undermined after he spoke out that the Sultan's heir would be able to recover from smallpox, which he fell ill with. The biography of the great scientist and philosopher has changed dramatically since then. Soon the observatory was closed, and the scientist spent the rest of his days in his hometown. He never married, so there were no heirs. There were also less and less students every year. Once he did not eat or drink anything all day, studying another philosophical work. Then he called people to make a will and died by evening.
Presumably in 1048 on May 18 in the north-east of Iran, in the city of Nishapur, was born in the family of a tent-keeper Omar Khayyam (full name- Omar Khayyam Giyasaddin Obu-l-Faht ibn Ibrahim) is an outstanding Tajik and Persian poet, Sufi philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, astrologer.
As a child, he was extremely gifted, at the age of 8 he already actively comprehended the basics of mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, and knew the Koran from memory. As a 12-year-old teenager, Omar entered the madrasah of his native city. The course of Muslim law and medical practice was completed by him with excellent marks, however, having received the qualification of a doctor, Omar Khayyam did not associate his life with medicine: he was much more interested in the work of mathematicians.
After the death of his parents, Khayyam sold their house and workshop, moved to Samarkand, which was then a cultural and scientific center. Enrolling in the madrasah as a student, he soon demonstrated such erudition in disputes that he was immediately elevated to the rank of mentor.
Like the great scientists of his era, Omar Khayyam did not live in any of the cities for very long. Therefore, he left Samarkand only 4 years later, moved to Bukhara and began working there in the book depository. During the 10 years he lived here, he wrote four fundamental works on mathematics.
It is known that in 1074 he was invited by the Seljuk sultan Melik Shah I to Isfahan, and at the suggestion of the vizier Nizam al-Mulk he became the spiritual mentor of the ruler. Khayyam was also the head of a large observatory at the court, gradually becoming a famous astronomer. A group of scientists headed by him created a fundamentally new calendar, officially adopted in 1079. The solar calendar, which was given the name "Jalali", turned out to be more accurate than the Julian and Gregorian. Khayyam also compiled the Malikshah Astronomical Tables. When in 1092 the patrons died, in the biography of Omar came new stage: he was accused of free-thinking, so he left the Sanjar state.
Poetry brought world fame to Omar Khayyam. His quatrains - rubai - are a call to the knowledge of earthly happiness, albeit fleeting; they are characterized by the pathos of individual freedom, free-thinking, depth philosophical thought combined with figurativeness, flexibility of rhythm, clarity, conciseness and capacity of style.
It is not known whether all of the rubai attributed to Khayyam are genuine, but 66 quatrains with enough a high degree reliability can be attributed precisely to his work. The poetry of Omar Khayyam stands somewhat apart from Persian poetry, although it is an integral part of it. It was Khayyam who became the only author whose lyrical hero is an autonomous person, alienated from God and the king, not recognizing violence, acting as a rebel.
Omar Khayyam gained fame mainly as a poet, however, if it were not for his activities in the literary field, he would still remain in the history of science as an outstanding mathematician and author of innovative works. In particular, in the treatise "On the proof of problems in algebra and almukabala" in geometric form, he gave a presentation of solutions to cubic equations; in the treatise "Comments on the difficult postulates of the book of Euclid" he put forward the original theory of parallel lines.
Omar Khayyam was loved, greatly respected, honored him. He died in his homeland; this happened around 1122.
Biography from Wikipedia
Name
Giyasaddin Abu-l-Fath Omar ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam Nishapuri
- غیاث الدین Ghiyas ad-Din- hitab, "help of religion."
- ابوالفتح Abu-l-Fath- kunya, "father of Fatah" (he did not have a son named "Fatah").
- عمر Lobster- ism (personal name).
- بن ابراهیم ibn Ibrahim- nasab, "son of Ibrahim."
- خیام Khayyam- tahallus, "tent master" (presumably, an indication of the father's craft; from the word "haima" - a tent, the Old Russian "khamovnik" - a textile worker presumably comes from the same word).
- نیشابورﻯ Nishapuri- nisba, "from Nishapur".
Born in the city of Nishapur, which is located in Khorasan (now the Iranian province of Khorasan-Rezavi). Omar was the son of a camper, he also had younger sister named Aisha. At the age of 8, he began to deeply study mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. At the age of 12, Omar became a student of the Nishapur Madrasah. Later he studied at the madrasas of Balkh, Samarkand and Bukhara. There he graduated with honors from a course in Islamic law and medicine, having received the qualification of a hakim, that is, a doctor. But medical practice was of little interest to him. He studied the works of the famous mathematician and astronomer Sabit ibn Kurra, the works of Greek mathematicians.
Khayyam's childhood fell on the cruel period of the Seljuk conquest Central Asia. Many people died, including a significant part of the scientists. Later, in the preface to his Algebra, Khayyam wrote bitter words:
We witnessed the death of scientists, from which a small, long-suffering handful of people remained. The severity of fate in these times prevents them from completely surrendering to the improvement and deepening of their science. Most of those who at the present time have the appearance of scientists, clothe the truth with a lie, without going beyond the bounds of forgery and hypocrisy in science. And if they meet a person who is distinguished by the fact that he seeks the truth and loves the truth, tries to reject lies and hypocrisy and refuse boasting and deceit, they make him the object of their contempt and ridicule.
At the age of sixteen, Khayyam experienced the first loss in his life: during the epidemic, his father died, and then his mother. Omar sold his father's house and workshop and went to Samarkand. At that time it was recognized in the East as a scientific and Cultural Center. In Samarkand, Khayyam first becomes a student of one of the madrasas, but after several speeches at debates, he impressed everyone with his learning so much that he was immediately made a mentor.
Like other great scientists of that time, Omar did not stay long in any city. After only four years, he left Samarkand and moved to Bukhara, where he began working in book depositories. During the ten years that the scientist lived in Bukhara, he wrote four fundamental treatises on mathematics.
In 1074, he was invited to Isfahan, the center of the Sanjar state, to the court of the Seljuk sultan Melik Shah I. On the initiative and under the patronage of the Shah's chief vizier, Nizam al-Mulk, Omar became the spiritual mentor of the sultan. Two years later, Melik Shah appointed him head of the palace observatory, one of the largest in the world. Working in this position, Omar Khayyam not only continued his studies in mathematics, but also became a famous astronomer. With a group of scientists, he developed a solar calendar more accurate than the Gregorian. Compiled the Malikshah Astronomical Tables, which included a small star catalog. Here he wrote "Comments on the difficulties in introducing the book of Euclid" (1077) from three books; in the second and third books he explored the theory of relations and the doctrine of number. However, in 1092, with the death of Sultan Melik Shah, who patronized him, and vizier Nizam al-Mulk, the Isfahan period of his life ends. Accused of godless freethinking, the poet is forced to leave the Seljuk capital.
The last hours of Khayyam's life are known from the words of his younger contemporary, Beihaki, who refers to the words of the poet's son-in-law.
Once, while reading the Book of Healing, Abu Ali ibn Sina Khayyam felt the approach of death (and he was then already over eighty). He stopped in his reading at the section devoted to the most difficult metaphysical question and entitled "The One in the Many", laid between the sheets a golden toothpick, which he held in his hand, and closed the folio. Then he called his relatives and students, made a will, and after that he no longer took any food or drink. Having fulfilled the prayer for the coming dream, he bowed to the ground and, on his knees, said: “God! To the best of my ability, I tried to know You. Forgive me! Inasmuch as I have come to know You, I have drawn near to You.” With these words on his lips, Khayyam died.
Testimony of the last years of the poet's life, left by the author of the "Four Conversations"
In the year 1113 in Balkh, on Slave Traders Street, in the house of Abu Said Jarrah, Khoja Imam Omar Khayyam and Khoja Imam Muzaffar Isfizari stopped, and I joined in serving them. During the feast, I heard the Proof of Truth Omar say: "My grave will be located in a place where every spring the breeze will shower flowers on me." These words surprised me, but I knew that such a person would not speak empty words. When I arrived in Nishapur in 1136, four years had already passed since that great one covered his face with a veil of earth, and low world orphaned without him. And for me, he was a mentor. On Friday, I went to bow to his ashes and took one person with me to show me his grave. He led me to the Khaire cemetery, turned left at the foot of the wall enclosing the garden, and I saw his grave. Pear and apricot trees hung from this garden and, spreading flowering branches over the grave, the whole grave was hidden under flowers. And those words came to my memory that I heard from him in Balkh, and I burst into tears, for on the whole surface of the earth and in the countries of the Inhabited Quarter I would not have seen for him more suitable place. God, Holy and Most High, prepare a place for him in paradise with your mercy and generosity!
Scientific activity
Mathematics
Khayyam owns the "Treatise on the proofs of problems in algebra and almukabala", which gives a classification of equations and sets out the solution of equations of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. In the first chapters of the treatise, Khayyam sets out an algebraic method for solving quadratic equations described by al-Khwarizmi. In the following chapters, he develops a geometric method for solving cubic equations, dating back to Archimedes: the roots of these equations in this method were determined as the common points of intersection of two suitable conic sections. Khayyam gave a rationale for this method, a classification of types of equations, an algorithm for choosing the type of a conic section, an estimate for the number of (positive) roots and their magnitude. Unfortunately, Khayyam did not notice that a cubic equation can have three positive real roots. Cardano Khayyam failed to reach explicit algebraic formulas, but he expressed the hope that an explicit solution would be found in the future.
In the introduction to this treatise, Omar Khayyam gives the first definition of algebra as a science that has come down to us, stating: algebra is the science of determining unknown quantities that are in some relationship with known quantities, and such a definition is carried out by compiling and solving equations.
In 1077, Khayyam completed work on an important mathematical work - "Comments on the difficulties in introducing the book of Euclid." The treatise consisted of three books; the first contained the original theory of parallel lines, the second and third are devoted to the improvement of the theory of relations and proportions. In the first book, Khayyam tries to prove Euclid's fifth postulate and replaces it with a simpler and more obvious equivalent: Two converging lines must intersect; in fact, during these attempts, Omar Khayyam proved the first theorems of the geometries of Lobachevsky and Riemann.
Further, Khayyam considers irrational numbers in his treatise as completely legitimate, defining the equality of two ratios as the consistent equality of all suitable quotients in Euclid's algorithm. He replaced the Euclidean theory of proportions with numerical theory.
At the same time, in the third book of the Commentaries, dedicated to compiling(that is, multiplication) of relations, Khayyam interprets the connection of concepts in a new way relationship and numbers. Considering the ratio of two continuous geometric quantities A and B, he argues as follows: “Let's choose a unit and make its relation to the quantity G equal to the ratio A To B, and we will look at the value G as to a line, surface, body, or time; but we will look at it as a quantity abstracted by the mind from all this and belonging to numbers, but not to absolute and real numbers, since the ratio A To B often may not be numerical ... It follows that you know that this unit is divisible and the value G, which is an arbitrary value, is treated as a number in the above sense. Speaking in favor of introducing a divisible unit and a new kind of numbers into mathematics, Khayyam theoretically substantiated the extension of the concept of number to a positive real number.
One more mathematical work Khayyama - “On the art of determining the amount of gold and silver in a body consisting of them” - is devoted to the classical mixing problem, first solved by Archimedes.
Astronomy
Khayyam led a group of astronomers in Isfahan, which, under the reign of the Seljuk Sultan Jalal ad-Din Malik Shah, developed a fundamentally new solar calendar. It was officially adopted in 1079. The main purpose of this calendar was to tie Novruz (that is, the beginning of the year) as strictly as possible to the spring equinox, understood as the entry of the sun into zodiac constellation Aries. So, 1 farvardin (Novruz) 468 solar year Hijri, in which the calendar was adopted, corresponded to Friday, Ramadan 9, 417 lunar year Hijri, and 19 farvardin 448 of the era of Yazdegerd (March 15, 1079). To distinguish it from the Zoroastrian solar year, which was called "ancient" or "Persian", the new calendar began to be called by the name of the Sultan - "Jalali" or "Maleki". The number of days in the months of the Jalali calendar varied depending on the timing of the entry of the sun into one or another zodiac sign and could range from 29 to 32 days. New names for the months were also proposed, as well as for the days of each month, following the model of the Zoroastrian calendar. However, they did not take root, and the months began to be named in general case the name of the corresponding zodiac sign.
From a purely astronomical point of view, the Jalali calendar was more accurate than the ancient Roman Julian calendar used in modern Khayyam Europe, and more accurate than the later European Gregorian calendar. Instead of the cycle “1 leap year for 4 years” (Julian calendar) or “97 leap years for 400 years” (Gregorian calendar), Khayyam adopted the ratio “8 leap years for 33 years”. In other words, out of every 33 years, 8 were leap years and 25 were ordinary. This calendar more accurately than all other known calendars corresponds to the year spring equinoxes. The project of Omar Khayyam was approved and formed the basis of the Iranian calendar, which has been operating in Iran since 1079 as an official one to this day.
Khayyam compiled "Malikshahov Zij", including a star catalog of 100 bright stars and dedicated to the Seljuk Sultan Malikshah ibn Alp Arslan. Zij observations are dated 1079 (“at the beginning of the [first] year of the leap year of the Maliki”); the manuscript has not been preserved, but there are lists from it.
rubaiyat
During his lifetime, Khayyam was known exclusively as an outstanding scientist. Throughout his life, he wrote poetic aphorisms (rubai), in which he expressed his innermost thoughts about life, about a person, about his knowledge in the genres of hamriyyat and zuhdiyat. Over the years, the number of quatrains attributed to Khayyam grew and by the 20th century exceeded 5000. Perhaps all those who feared persecution for freethinking and blasphemy attributed their works to Khayyam. It is almost impossible to establish exactly which of them really belong to Khayyam (if he composed poetry at all). Some researchers consider Khayyam's authorship in relation to 300-500 rubles possible.
Such versatility of talents has led to the fact that up to late XIX century it was believed that Khayyam the poet and Khayyam the scientist were different people(in the encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron there are different articles about them: vol. XXXVII - Heyyam Omar ibn-Ibrahim of Nishapur and vol. XXIa - Omar Alkayami).
For a long time Omar Khayyam was forgotten. By a lucky chance, a notebook with his poems fell into Victorian era into the hands of the English poet Edward Fitzgerald, who translated many rubies first into Latin and then into English. At the beginning of the 20th century, the rubaiyat, in a very free and original arrangement by Fitzgerald, became perhaps the most popular work of Victorian poetry. The worldwide fame of Omar Khayyam as a spokesman for hedonism, which denies posthumous retribution, aroused interest in his scientific achievements that have been rediscovered and rethought.
Memory of Khayyam
Although Omar Khayyam's lifetime images have not been preserved and his appearance is unknown, monuments to the poet were erected in many countries (for example, in Nishapur, Ashgabat, Bucharest). In 1935, the Azerbaijani writer Huseyn Javid wrote the play "Khayyam" dedicated to Omar Khayyam, Omar Khayyam Planetarium in Nishapur
- In 1970, the International Astronomical Union named a crater on reverse side Moon.
- Several biopics were made about him in the US: Omar Khayham (1924), as Phil Dunham; Omar Khayyam (1957) leading role Cornel Wild; "Omar Al-Khayyam" (2002), in the role of Jihad Saad / Jihad Saad; The Guardian: The Legend of Omar Khayyam (2005), starring Bruno Lastra. Also in Turkey came "Ömer Hayyam" (1973), in the role of Orcun Sonat / Orçun Sonat.
Editions of rubaiyat in Russian
The first to translate Omar Khayyam into Russian was V. L. Velichko (1891). The textbook translation of the rubaiyat into Russian (1910) was performed by Konstantin Balmont. Some Russian-language editions of the rubaiyat:
- Omar Khayyam Rubaiyat. Translated from Tajik-Farsi: Vladimir Derzhavin. Publishing house "IRFON", Dushanbe, 1965
- Omar Khayyam Rubai. Per. from Farsi // Iranian-Tajik poetry. - M.: Fiction, 1974. - S. 101-124. / Library of World Literature, Series 1, Vol. 21.
- Omar Khayyam Rubai. - Tashkent, ed. Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan, 1978. - 104 p., 200,000 copies.
- Omar Khayyam Rubaiyat: Best translations/ Comp., entry. article, note. Sh. M. Shamukhamedova. - Tashkent, Publishing House of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan, 1982. - 128 p., 7 incl. sheets, 200,000 copies. (Selected Lyrics of the East. Second edition, supplemented)
- Omar Khayyam Rubai. Translation by S. Severtsev - in: The Great Tree. Poets of the East. M., 1984, p. 282-284.
- Omar Khayyam Rubai: Per. from Persian-Taj. / Entry. Art. Z. N. Vorozheykina and A. Sh. Shakhverdov; Comp. and note. A. Sh. Shakhverdova. - L.: Owls. writer, 1986. - 320 p. Circulation 100,000 copies. (Library of the poet. Large series. Third edition).
- Omar Khayyam: Rubaiyat. Comparison of translations. / Malkovich R.Sh .. - St. Petersburg: RKHGA Publishing House, 2012. - 696 p. - 500 copies.
Mathematical, natural science and philosophical treatises
- Khayyam Omar. On the proof of problems in algebra and almuqabala. Historical and mathematical research, 6, 1953. - S. 15-66.
- Khayyam Omar. Commentaries on the difficult postulates of Euclid's book. Historical and mathematical research, 6, 1953. - S. 67-107.
- Khayyam Omar. On the art of determining gold and silver in a body composed of them. Historical and mathematical research, 6, 1953. - S. 108-112.
- Khayyam Omar. Treatises. Archived November 28, 2012. / Translation by A.P. Yushkevich. Article and comments by B. A. Rosenfeld and A. P. Yushkevich. - M.: Ed. east lit., 1961.
- Khayyam Omar. Treatises. / Translated by B. A. Rosenfeld. Edited by V. S. Segal and A. P. Yushkevich. Article and comments by B. A. Rosenfeld and A. P. Yushkevich. - M., 1962.
- Khayyam Omar. First algebraic treatise. Historical and mathematical research, 15, 1963. - S. 445-472.
- Khayyam Omar. About direct bushes. Historical and mathematical research, 19, 1974. - S. 274-278.
- Khayyam Omar. We are talking about childbirth, which are formed by a quart. Historical and mathematical research, 19, 1974. - S. 279-284.
Omar Khayyam (1048-1131) was an outstanding mathematician and astronomer. It was he who developed methods for solving quadratic and cubic equations, defined algebra as a science, and considered issues related to irrational numbers. In astronomy, he developed the solar calendar. That one was more accurate. julian calendar and formed the basis of the Iranian calendar, which is still used in Iran and Afghanistan.
This amazing person revered in the East as a sage. He was born in the family of a merchant in the city of Nishapur (670 km east of Tehran). At 16, he lost his parents. They died from the epidemic. The young man qualified as a doctor and left for Samarkand. At that time it was one of the largest scientific centers peace. After a few years, young Omar moved to Bukhara. He lived in this city for 10 years and wrote many serious works on mathematics.
Then came a very fruitful 18-year period for Khayyam. He was invited to the city of Isfahan (340 km south of Tehran). At that time it was the capital of the powerful Seljuk Sultanate. Melik Shah was at the head of the state. His chief vizier, Nizam al-Mulk, personally recommended that the lord take a young and intelligent man into his entourage, and very soon Omar became the spiritual mentor of the formidable sultan and headed the palace observatory.
It was during these years that the main works in astronomy and mathematics fell. But, as follows from life practice, happiness and well-being rarely last long. In 1092 Melik Shah died. A month before, Nizam al-Mulk had been killed by the Ismailis. Already a middle-aged scientist was left without patrons.
The son of the deceased ruler Mahmud was proclaimed Sultan. But the boy was only 5 years old, so his mother Turkan Khatun concentrated all power in her hands. For her, astronomy and mathematics were empty words. Omar Khayyam was demoted to the post of attending physician, and an insignificant salary was paid for his work at the observatory.
In 1097, the scientist's service at the court ended. The capital was moved to the city of Merv, and the observatory in Khorasan lost its dominant role. Soon it was closed, and the scientist was out of work. On the eve of old age, he was kicked out into the street, without giving any pension maintenance.
Very little is known about the further period of the life of the outstanding sage of the East. There is information that Omar became a freethinker. The ministers of Islam even equated him with apostates. In order to somehow justify himself in their eyes, the elderly scientist made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The last years of his life, the venerable elder lived in Nishapur. Only occasionally did he visit Balkha and Bukhara. He lived on the money that he earned by teaching in the madrasah. He met regularly with various philosophers and scientists. Those themselves were looking for a meeting in order to enter into scientific disputes with him. The elder had several students. As for family life, then Omar Khayyam never married and had no children. This amazing man devoted his whole life to science.
The great scientist died on December 4, 1131. He lived long and interesting life but was quickly forgotten by posterity. It was remembered only in the 19th century, thanks to the English poet Edward Fitzgerald (1801-1883). He began to translate the quatrains, the so-called rubaiyat, of the famous scientist.
In addition to mathematics and astronomy, he was fond of lyric poetry. One of its forms is rubaiyat - quatrains. They are widespread in the East.
They had so much wisdom and humor that they instantly became very popular. In 1934, admirers of the outstanding scientist and poet erected an obelisk to him. They put it in Nishapur near the mosque in memory of the venerable Imam Makhruk. Below are the most famous and interesting quatrains. The translation from Persian was made by the Russian poet and translator German Borisovich Plisetsky.
Monument to Omar Khayyam
Poems by Omar Khayyam
For many years I have thought about earthly life,
There is nothing incomprehensible for me under the moon,
I know that I don't know anything,
Here is the last secret I have learned.
I am a schoolboy in this best of best worlds,
My work is hard: the teacher is painfully harsh!
Until gray hair, I go to life as apprentices,
Still not enrolled in the category of masters ...
He is too zealous, shouting: "It's me!"
In the wallet, a little gold strums: "It's me!"
But as soon as he manages to set things up -
Death knocks on the window to the braggart: "It's me!"
In the cradle - the baby, the dead - in the coffin:
That's all that is known about our fate.
Drink the cup to the bottom - and do not ask much:
The master will not reveal a secret to a slave.
Do not mourn, mortal, yesterday's losses,
Do not measure today's affairs by tomorrow's measure,
Do not believe in the past or the future,
Wen the current minute - be happy now!
Know, the favorite of fate born in a shirt:
Your tent is propped up by rotten pillars.
If the soul is covered with flesh, like a tent -
Beware, for the stakes of the tent are weak!
Those who believe blindly will not find the way.
Those who think are always oppressed by doubts.
I'm afraid that the voice will be heard one day:
"O fools! The road is not there and not here!”
It is better to fall into poverty, starve or steal,
Than to get into the number of despicable dishes.
Better to swallow bones than to be seduced by sweets
At the table of the bastards who have power.
It is unworthy - to strive for any plate,
Like a greedy fly, risking itself.
Better let Khayyam not have a crumb,
What a scoundrel will feed him for slaughter!
If a worker in the sweat of his brow
Producing bread, did not acquire anything -
Why should he bow to nothingness
Or even someone who is not worse than him?
A mortal did not win victories over the sky.
Everyone in a row is devoured by the earth-eater.
Are you whole yet? And brag about it?
Wait: you'll get the ants for dinner!
All that we see is only one appearance.
Far from the surface of the world to the bottom.
Consider the unimportant obvious in the world,
For the secret essence of things is not visible.
Even the brightest minds in the world
Could not disperse the surrounding darkness.
They told us a few fairy tales for the night -
And went, wise, to sleep, like us.
The one who follows reason milks the bull,
Wisdom is now unprofitable for sure!
Nowadays it's more profitable to play the fool,
For reason today is the price of garlic.
If you become a slave of base lust -
You will be empty in old age, like an abandoned house.
Look at yourself and think about
Who are you, where are you and - where then?
In this perishable universe in due time
A man and a flower turn into dust.
If only the ashes evaporated from under our feet -
A stream of blood would pour down from the sky!
Life is a desert, we wander naked through it.
Mortal, full of pride, you are simply ridiculous!
You find a reason for every step -
Meanwhile, it has long been predetermined in heaven.
Because own death cannot be delayed
Since from above the path is indicated to mortals,
Since you cannot make eternal things out of wax -
It's not worth crying about it, friends!
Having seen the frailty of the world, wait a minute to grieve!
Believe me: it’s not for nothing that the heart is pounding in the chest.
Do not grieve about the past: what was - then swam.
Do not worry about the future: the fog is ahead ...
Having become a poor dervish, you will reach heights.
Having torn your heart into blood, you will reach heights.
Away, empty dreams of great accomplishments!
Only by coping with yourself - you will reach heights.
If the houri kisses passionately on the mouth,
If your interlocutor is wiser than Christ,
If a musician is more beautiful than the heavenly Zuhra -
Everything is not a joy, since your conscience is not clear!
We will leave without a trace - no names, no signs.
This world will stand still for thousands of years.
We weren't here before, and we won't be here after.
There is no harm or benefit from it.
If a mill, a bath, luxury palace
Receives as a gift a fool and a scoundrel,
And the worthy goes into bondage because of bread -
I don't care about your justice, Creator!
Is this really our miserable lot?
To be slaves to your lustful bodies?
After all, not one of the living in the world
I couldn't satisfy my desires!
We fell into this world like a sparrow into a snare.
We are full of anxiety, hopes and sorrows.
Into this round cage with no doors
We got with you not by our own will.
If all states, near and far,
Subjugated will wallow in the dust
You will not become, great lord, immortal.
Your inheritance is small: three arshins of land.
The sheikh shamed the harlot: “You, dissolute, drink,
You sell your body to everyone who wants it!
“I,” said the harlot, “is really like that.
Are you who you say you are to me?"
I did not come to the mosque for a righteous word,
Not seeking to join the basics, he came.
Last time I stole a prayer rug
He was worn out to holes - I came for a new one!
You do not believe the fabrications of non-drinkers quietly,
As if drunkards in hell awaits the fire.
If a place in hell is for lovers and drunks -
Paradise will be empty tomorrow, like a palm!
In this world, there is a trap at every turn.
I voluntarily did not live even a day.
Decisions are made in heaven without me
And then they call me a rebel!
Nobility and meanness, courage and fear -
Everything is built into our bodies from birth.
We will not get better or worse until death -
We are who God made us!
The world is fraught with good and evil at the same time:
Everything that builds is immediately scrapped.
Be fearless, live in the present moment,
Do not worry about the future, do not cry about the past.
What for common happiness to suffer to no avail -
Better happiness give to someone close.
Better friend bind to yourself with kindness,
How to free humanity from the fetters.
Drink with the worthy, who is not stupider than you,
Or drink with your beloved moon-faced.
Don't tell anyone how much you drank.
Drink wisely. Drink with understanding. Drink moderately.
"Hell and heaven are in heaven," say the bigots.
I, looking into myself, was convinced of a lie:
Hell and heaven are not circles in the palace of the universe,
Hell and heaven are two halves of the soul.
In this world, the truth will not grow an escape.
Justice has not ruled the world forever.
Do not think that you will change the course of life.
Don't hold on to a cut branch, man.
In this hostile world, don't be a fool:
Do not think of relying on those who are around,
With a sober eye, look at your closest friend -
A friend may turn out to be the worst enemy.
Do not envy the one who is strong and rich.
Dawn is always followed by sunset.
With this life short, equal to a sigh,
Treat like a rental.
He who from youth believes in his own mind,
He became, in pursuit of truth, dry and gloomy.
Claiming from childhood on knowledge of life,
Not becoming a grape, it turned into a raisin.
You call shame on me in front of everyone:
I am an atheist, I am a drunkard, almost a thief!
I am ready to agree with your words.
But are you worthy of judgment?
For the worthy - there are no worthy awards,
I put my stomach for a worthy glad.
Do you want to know if hellish torments exist?
To live among the unworthy is true hell!
I asked the wisest: "What did you extract
From your manuscripts? Wise saying:
“Happy is he who is in the arms of a tender beauty
At night, the wisdom of the book is far away!
You, the Almighty, in my opinion, are greedy and old.
You strike the slave with blow after blow.
Paradise is the reward of the sinless for their obedience.
Would give me something not as a reward, but as a gift!
The world is ruled by violence, malice and revenge.
What else is reliable on earth?
Where happy people in an embittered world?
If there is - they are easy to count on the fingers.
Beware of being captivated by a beautiful friend!
Beauty and love are two sources of torment,
For this beautiful kingdom is eternal:
It strikes the heart - and leaves the hands.
O sage! If God rented you
Musician, wine, stream and sunset -
Do not grow crazy desires in your heart.
If all this is - you are immensely rich!
You and I are prey, and the world is a trap.
The Eternal Stalker is poisoning us, driving us to the grave.
He is to blame for everything that happens in the world,
And he accuses you and me of sins.
O sage! If this or that fool
Calls dawn the midnight gloom
Play dumb and don't argue with fools
Everyone who is not a fool is a freethinker and an enemy!
Consider that you will change the course of the planets.
Consider that this light is not this light.
Hope you get what you want.
Consider it so. If not, consider not.
Omar Khayyam (Giyas ad-Din Abu-l-Fath Omar ibn Ibrahim) (1048-1131)
Persian and Tajik poet, mathematician and philosopher. Primary education received in his native city, then in the largest centers of science of that time: Balkh, Samarkand, etc.
Around 1069 in Samarkand, Khayyam wrote a treatise "On the proofs of the problems of algebra and allukabala." In 1074 he headed the largest astronomical observatory in Isfahan.
In 1077 he completed work on the book "Comments on the difficult postulates of the book of Euclid." Two years later, the calendar is put into effect. V last years 11th century the ruler of Isfahan changes and the observatory is closed.
Khayyam makes a pilgrimage to Mecca. In 1097 he worked as a doctor in Khorasan and wrote a treatise in Farsi "On the universality of being."
Khayyam spends the last 10-15 years of his life in seclusion in Nishapur, having little contact with people. According to historians, in last hours life Omar Khayyam read the "Book of Healing" Ibn Sina (Avicenna). He reached the section "On unity and universality", put a toothpick on the book, got up, prayed and died.
Creativity Khayyam - an amazing phenomenon in the history of the culture of peoples Central Asia and Iran, all mankind. His discoveries in the field of physics, mathematics, astronomy have been translated into many languages of the world. His poems, "stinging like a snake" still conquer with their ultimate capacity, conciseness, imagery, simplicity visual means and flexible rhythm. Khayyam's philosophy brings him closer to the humanists of the Renaissance ("The goal of the creator and the pinnacle of creation is us"). He denounced existing orders, religious dogmas and vices that reigned in society, considering this world to be temporary and transient.
Theologians and philosophers of that time were of the opinion that eternal life and bliss can only be found after death. All this is reflected in the work of the poet. However, he also loved real life, protested against its imperfection and appealed to enjoy every moment of it.
Any quatrain of Khayyam is a small poem. He cut the form of the quatrain like precious stone, approved the internal laws of the rubai, and Khayyam has no equal in this area.
