What language does the original text of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam use?

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a collection of extraordinary poetry that has captivated audiences for centuries with its striking themes, profound metaphors, and rich language. Many wonder what language these thought-provoking verses were initially written in, and the answer pulls us back into the vibrant and culturally diverse world of medieval Persia. Delve into the world of the Rubaiyat and learn about its linguistic origins and historical context.

The Persian Poet: Omar Khayyam

Omar Khayyam, born in 1048 AD, was a Persian polymath, philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, and most importantly, a poet. He is best remembered for his collection of quatrains called the Rubaiyat, which are four-line stanzas with each line comprising of two hemistichs (half-lines) with a particular rhythm and rhyme scheme. Khayyam's work was written almost nine centuries ago, and it was in the literary and cultural language of the time: Persian.

Persian, also known as Farsi, is an Indo-European language mainly spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. The Persian alphabet is derived from the Arabic alphabet, with four additional letters. It was the language of scholarship, diplomacy, and high culture during Khayyam's time, just as Latin was in the European Middle Ages.

The Rubaiyat's Original Language: Persian

The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, like most Persian poetry, was written in the Persian language with a specific literary style and structure. Persian poetry is known for its euphony, imagery, and richness of expression. Khayyam composed the Rubaiyat using a specific form of Persian poetry called Rubai, which is a type of quatrain. The Persian quatrains in the Rubaiyat are rich in metaphors and symbolism, with themes like human existence, mortality, fate, and the ephemeral nature of life.

The original text of the Rubaiyat used Classical Persian, a highly expressive and literary version of the language used in poetry, philosophy, and scholarship, making it more challenging for modern Persian speakers to comprehend. Classical Persian was the language of the royals, literati, and the elite in the medieval period.

Translations and Influences

Although the original Rubaiyat was composed in Persian, its fame and fascination reached far beyond its linguistic borders. The global appreciation of Khayyam’s verses began when the Rubaiyat was first translated into English by British poet and writer, Edward FitzGerald, in 1859. FitzGerald's translation, while not entirely faithful to the original Persian text, captured the spirit and essence of Khayyam's philosophies and made them accessible to a Western audience.

Over time, several more translations and interpretations of the Rubaiyat have been made in different languages, each adding a unique perspective and understanding to the original text. These translations have contributed to the Rubaiyat's eternal charm and international acclaim, ensuring that Omar Khayyam's poignant quatrains continue to captivate the hearts and minds of readers worldwide, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.