Omar Khayyam

Date of Birth: May 18, 1048

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: December 4, 1131

Biography

Omar Khayyam, born Ghiyāth ad-Dīn Abū al-Fatḥ ʿUmar ibn Ibrāhīm al-Khayyām Nīshāpūrī, was a Persian mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and poet. He was born on May 18, 1048, in Nishapur, in the Khorasan region of Persia (modern-day Iran). Khayyam is best known for his work as a poet, particularly for his collection of quatrains, the “Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám,” which was popularized in the West through the translation by Edward FitzGerald in the 19th century. As a mathematician, Khayyam made significant contributions to the understanding of the parallel postulate and the classification and solution of cubic equations. His work in astronomy led to the reform of the Persian calendar, making it more accurate than the Julian calendar used in Europe at the time. Despite his scientific achievements, Khayyam’s legacy is most enduring in his poetry. His verses reflect a deep contemplation of life, the nature of existence, and the passage of time, often with a focus on the fleeting nature of happiness and the inevitability of death. He passed away on December 4, 1131, in his birthplace of Nishapur.

5 Interesting Facts about Omar Khayyam

1. Omar Khayyam was a polymath, excelling not only in poetry but also in mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy.

2. He contributed to the development of a very accurate solar calendar called the Jalali calendar, which is still in use in Iran today.

3. Despite his fame as a poet, many of his quatrains were only attributed to him posthumously, and the authenticity of some remains disputed.

4. Khayyam’s work on the classification of cubic equations was highly advanced and was not surpassed until the Renaissance.

5. He was a contemporary of other great thinkers such as Avicenna and Al-Ghazali, with whom he had intellectual exchanges.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Omar Khayyam

1. “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

2. “The moving finger writes; and, having writ, moves on.”

3. “A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou.”

4. “The world will long be, but your time is short.”

5. “Drink wine. This is life eternal. This is all that youth will give you. It is the season for wine, roses and drunken friends. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Omar Khayyam lived in the 11th and 12th centuries, a time when modern concepts of net worth did not exist. Therefore, it is impossible to estimate his net worth in contemporary terms. However, his intellectual contributions have left an invaluable legacy.