Shota Rustaveli
1160-1220
Shota Rustaveli was a Georgian poet who lived during the Golden Age of Georgia. He is best known for his epic poem “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, which is considered one of the masterpieces of world literature and a symbol of Georgian culture. Rustaveli’s biography remains somewhat mysterious. It is believed that he received his education in Byzantium, where he studied ancient literature, philosophy, and theology. He also learned the basics of rhetoric and poetry. This knowledge combined with his deep understanding of Oriental poetry and Georgian traditions formed the basis of his creative work. Serving at the court of Queen Tamara, one of Georgia’s most famous rulers, provided Rustaveli with both political and cultural perspectives. He served as the treasurer, indicating his close relationship with the royal family and his involvement in significant events of his time. “The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin” is a masterpiece of Georgian literature that combines philosophical reflection, subtle lyricism, and oriental motifs. It is both a symbol of Georgian national pride and an integral part of the global literary heritage. The poem’s themes of love, friendship, honour, and loyalty are timeless and universal. According to legend, Shota Rustaveli wrote this poem under the influence of his romantic love for Queen Tamara. However, there is no concrete historical evidence to support this claim. The poet’s end remains shrouded in mystery, with various legends suggesting he died either in the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem or shortly after turning down a reward for his services to Queen Tamara. Rustaveli’s poem has been translated into dozens of languages, including Russian, English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. There are five known poetic translations in Russian, the most significant of which are the works of Konstantin Balmont (1933) and Nikolai Zabolotsky (1957). Zabolotsky made extensive use of the subscript translations created by S. G. Iordanishvili in his work. Excerpts from the poem have been widely published throughout the 20th century, particularly in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Today, “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” holds a special place in world literature. Shota Rustaveli’s work continues to be a symbol of Georgian greatness and an inspiration for future generations of writers, poets, and translators. In Moscow, a monument to Shota Rustaveli stands on Gruzinskaya Square. Streets in Moscow and St. Petersburg bear his name. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Kaliningrad, Vladikavkaz, Omsk, Ufa, Tula, Rostov-on-Don, Stavropol, Nizhny Novgorod and Karaganda were named after him.
Address: Moscow, Georgian Square
