The Knight in the Panther's Skin

"The Knight in the Panther's Skin" (Georgian: ვეფხისტყაოსანი, transliterated as "Vepkhist'q'aosani") is an epic poem, consisting of over 1600 quatrains, was written in the 12th century by the Georgian epic-poet Shota Rustaveli, who was a Prince and Treasurer ("Mechurchletukhutsesi") at the royal court of Queen Tamar of Georgia. "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" is often seen as Georgia's national epic. The poem has been highly praised by literary critics for its language and dramatic effect. The poem was first printed in 1712, in Tbilisi.

About the author

Shota Rustaveli is regarded by Georgians as their greatest poet. There is little known about his origins, but as the 8th quatrain in the poem suggests, the author identifies himself as "Rustveli", literary meaning, "someone from Rustavi" (a town near Tbilisi). [ Georgian Language and Culture, by Howard Aronson, 267 ] Other clues provided by the poem suggests that Rustaveli was a well-educated and highly-placed nobleman at the court of Georgia's greatest sovereign, Queen Tamar. [ Georgian Language and Culture, by Howard Aronson, 267 ] It was Queen Tamar to whose honor the poet dedicated his masterpiece, written in ca. 1196-1207. In 1960, the Georgian Archaeological expedition discovered a portrait of Rustaveli on the wall of ninth-century Georgian Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem. A medieval Georgian inscription identifies the figure of the old man with long white beard and dressed in rich clerical habit as Shota from Rustavi. As historians suggest, Rustaveli undertook a pilgrimage to this monastery before his death.

The 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 poem was translated to many languages, including Hebrew, Russian (five different translations), Polish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic and English. The poem was also translated to most of the languages spoken in the former Soviet Union and the languages of the former socialistic block.

ynopsis

The Knight in the Panther's Skin (Vepkhvistkhaosani) describes the adventures of Avtandil, a young Arab nobleman, and his friend Tariel, an Indian prince. Avtandil is sent by his beloved, Tinatin, the newly crowned ruler of Arabia, on the mission to find a mysterious and elusive Knight clad in a tiger's skin. Avtandil finds the knight, who turns out to be Prince Tariel, grieving over the disappearance of the beautiful Nestan-Darejan, daughter of his sovereign, King of India. Avtandil befriends Tariel and helps him to find Nestan-Darejan, who has been held captive by evil spirits (kajebi) in their impenetrable fortress. With the aid of Nuradin-Pridon, their comrade of princerly blood, Avtandil and Tariel free the beautiful princess. The poem ends with a double wedding: after the royal marriage of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan, Avtandil celebrates his own wedding to Queen Tinatin.

See also

*Shota Rustaveli
*Culture of Georgia
*"Visramiani"
*"Amiran-Darejaniani"

References

External links

* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/mps/synopsis.htm Synopsis of the plot]
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/mps/index.htm The Man in the Panther's Skin: full text of M. Wardrop's English translation.]
* [http://oldpoetry.com/poetry/45187 The Knight In The panther's Skin (fragments, on oldpoetry.com)]
* [http://sangha.net/countries/Georgia/shota.htm The Knight In The panther's Skin (fragments, on sangha.net)]
* [http://georgianwines.blogspot.com/2007/04/knight-sets-out-to-rescue-maiden.html "Knight Sets Out to Rescue Maiden, Becomes National Epic," "From the Cradle of Wine"]