Little is known about the life of Ghija ud-din Abu'l Fath Umar Ibn Ibrahim Ul-Khayyami (1048-1131), as he is called in the oldest Arabic sources. He was regarded as a great mathematician and astronomer who became famous for his scientific treatises in Arabic, but above all for creating a calendar that in some respects was even superior to the Gregorian calendar. This was officially introduced in 1079, replacing the Arabic-Islamic lunar year with the Persian solar year. In Europe, he became known as Omar Khayyam due to his 750 quatrains (Rubaiyat). He was born in Nishâpur, the largest city in ancient Persia (Iran) at the time. He spent most of his life here and also died and was buried there.
His sometimes pessimistic drinking songs were directed against religious fanaticism and also heretically against the Islamic ban on alcohol: "I do not know whether the One who moulded my being has prepared a home for me in heaven or in the terrible hell. But a little food, an adored one and some wine on a green heap - that is wealth - keep for yourself the heaven you trust so much". Another example: "Every day I resolve anew that I will stop drinking and repent; but since the fair spring has appeared full of the scent of roses - I regret my repentance". Omar Khayyam also wrote about the legendary King Jemshid, at whose court, according to legend, wine was invented. Another famous Persian poet is Hafiz (1324-1390). See also under quotations, where verses by both poets are included.
Picture left: By Abolhassan Sadighi - Own work, GFDL 1.2, Link
Image on the right: CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
