Shota Rustaveli (Georgian: შოთა რუსთაველი) was a Georgian poet of the 12th century, considered by many to be one of the greatest representatives of the literature of the medieval world. He is author of the literary work The Knight in the Panther's Skin ("Vepkhistqaosani" in Georgian), the Georgian national epic poem.
In the poem, Rustaveli talks about Medieval European humanistic ideals: chivalry, feelings of love, friendship, courtly love, courage and fortitude. The heroes of the poem are brave, philanthropic, and generous. The heroes of the poem are not restricted to Georgian nationality. The regions of Arabia, China, and India all figure in the poem.
The story is of the passionate search for a woman, symbol of the sun, stolen to the west across the sea, by a knight who undertakes the complex task for her distraught suitor.
....Rustaveli was a Georgian noble, the treasurer ("Mechurchletukhutsesi") of Queen of Georgia Tamar and also ordered frescoes in the Georgian monastery of the St. Cross in Jerusalem. One of the pillars of this monastery bears a portrait which is believed to be the portrait of the poet. Few facts are known about Rustaveli's life; in particular dates of his birth and death are unknown.
The meaning of the surname Rustaveli is landlord of Rustavi or a man from Rustavi. Rustavi was a city in Meskheti, south Georgia.
"The Knight in the Panther's Skin" has been translated into many languages. It was first printed in 1712, in Tbilisi (capital of Georgia).
Among the illustrated secular works produced in Georgia, the manuscripts of "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" occupy an important place.
ManuscriptIn the Institute of Manuscripts of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (Tbilisi) are two leaves of the text of the XVI century, and some lines of the poem belong to the XIV century. All other lists of the poem belong to the XVII century (manuscript of 1653, H-54 of the Institute of Manuscripts).
Shota Rustveli (a fresco in the Jerusalem Monastery of the Cross).The highest Prize of the Republic of Georgia in the fields of Art and Literature is the Shota Rustaveli State Prize. The main street in Tbilisi is the Rustaveli Avenue. Also existing in Tbilisi are the Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre, the Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, the Shota Rustaveli Underground Station, etc
"The Man in the Panther's Skin"
by Shot'ha Rust'haveli
translated by Marjory Scott Wardrop
Read Online Book:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/mps/index.htm
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