“When You and I behind the Veil are past”
Oh, but the long, long while…
Omar Khayyam (1048-1131) was a Persian polymath, known for his significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and poetry. Born in Nishapur, in present-day Iran, Khayyam excelled in multiple disciplines, reflecting the rich intellectual culture of the Islamic Golden Age.
As a mathematician, Khayyam made substantial advancements in algebra, including the geometric method for solving cubic equations and the classification of these equations. He was also instrumental in the development of the Persian calendar, executing reforms that resulted in the more accurate Jalali calendar, which is still in use today.
Khayyam's philosophical writings illustrate his deep engagement with metaphysical questions and the nature of existence, often revealing a skeptical and questioning mind. He is perhaps most renowned in the Western world for his poetic work, “The Rubáiyát,” a collection of quatrains that delve into themes of life, fate, and the fleeting nature of human experience. Although relatively obscure in his own time, Khayyam’s poetry was popularized internationally in the 19th and 20th centuries through the translations of Edward FitzGerald.
Omar Khayyam's legacy endures, bridging Eastern and Western cultural contexts, and his works continue to inspire scholars and admirers around the world. He epitomizes the spirit of inquiry and intellectual versatility characteristic of his era.