Life and works of Omar Khayyam

Omar Khayyam

Biography

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1048 – 1131 CE

Born in Nishapur, capital of Seljuk Empire. Modern day Iran.

Was a mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and poet

His major contributions include solutions to cubic equations, and contributions to understanding of parallel axioms.

In astronomy, he calculated the duration of the solar year and created a calendar that is the basis for todays Persian calendar.

As a philosopher, he dealt with subjects of existence in relation to universe, free will and transcendence.

In poetry, he left us with the Rubaiyat

Famous Quotes

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  • Be happy for this moment, this moment is your life. - Omar Khayyam
  • Fill the Cup that clears TO-DAY of past Regrets and future Fears - Omar Khayyam
  • Tomorrow is unborn Yesterday is dead Do not stress over them, Today is sweet. - Omar Khayyam

Impact On History

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The poetry of Omar Khayyam impacted the literature and work of T.S. Elliot and Ezra Pound.

He contributed to mathematics by discovering a geometric method for solving cubic equations.

To astronomy, he left astronomical tables and a contribution to calendar reform.

Notable Works

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The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam – the title to this poem was given by Edward Fitzgerals in 1859 when he translated the work from Persian to English.  This is a profound masterpiece has a very strong message of seizing the day and living in the now.

Detailed Write-Ups

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List Of Quotes

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Dreaming when Dawn’s Left Hand was in the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,
“Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life’s Liquor in its Cup be dry.”

Omar Khayyam

Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that clears TO-DAY
of past Regrets and future Fears-
To-morrow?—Why, To-morrow I may be Myself with
Yesterday’s Sev’n Thousand Years.

Omar Khayyam

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,
Before we too into the Dust Descend;
Dust into Dust, and under Dust, to lie,
Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer and—sans End!

Omar Khayyam

Then to this earthen Bowl did I adjourn
My Lip the secret Well of Life to learn:
And Lip to Lip it murmur’d—”While you live,
Drink!—for once dead you never shall return.”

Omar Khayyam

Ah, fill the Cup:—what boots it to repeat
How Time is slipping underneath our Feet:
Unborn TO-MORROW and dead YESTERDAY,
Why fret about them if TO-DAY be sweet!

Omar Khayyam

With Earth’s first Clay They did the Last Man’s knead,
And then of the Last Harvest sow’d the Seed:
Yea, the first Morning of Creation wrote
What the Last Dawn of Reckoning shall read.

Omar Khayyam

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