The Lure
of the
Orient
aRmosavleTis xibli Celebrating the Timeless Treasure of Oriental Art and Poetry, and Centuries of Cultural Exchange between Persia and Georgia
ISBN 978-0-9559145-6-0 Georgian Registration No 978-9941-0-5556-0
Published by: FT International and TTG Georgia ftcarib@candw.ag lela_khartishvili@yahoo.com Distributed by: MTA Publications London www.mtapublications.co.uk inquiry@mtapublications.co.uk The Lure of the Orient has been made possible by our Georgian colleagues: Design and Typesetting: Gega Paksashvili Print: Production Consultant: Lela Khartishvili Iranian Liaison Consultant: Daryoush Khorasani English selection by the publisher from respected translations Special thanks to Peter Nasmyth First published in Tbilisi, Georgia in 2013 Copyright FTI. Copyright of all illustrations Sofia Varazi All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the permission of the copyright holder.
This unique collection of original paintings by Sofia Varazi evokes the timeless world of the romantic Orient. They illustrate the subtle philosphical messages of “Oriental” poets who speak to us through the mists of history. These poets lived in centres of great scholarship and learning in Persia and nearby lands such as Georgia, Turkey and Afghanistan nearly a millenium ago. They lived in turbulent times, yet their philosophies still resonate strongly with all of us today. The flowering of Persian poetry is typified by the famous Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam, enhanced by the philosophical writings of poets like Jeluddin Rumi, Hafiz and Firdausi. The depths of their romanticism also spread into the epic poem of Shota Rustaveli in Georgia, “The Knight in the Panther Skin”. All these works celebrate life and love and beauty, while intensely aware of time passing and the caprices of destiny, We are fortunate that the complex calligraphy in which the poets expressed their thoughts has been translated into many languages by dedicated scholars. While over the centuries some nuances may have been lost, the essence remains eternal. The exotic illustrations created by artists then and now take us back to an imagined and dreamlike era of paradise lost. This unique collection of Oriental paintings by a Georgian artist captures the essence of past fantasies, while infusing them with a wondrous modernity.
INTRODUCTION FROM THE PUBLISHER
As an English child growing up in bleak post-war London, I felt lured to the Orient at an early age. We had few diversions but many books, and I discovered Scheherazade and “A Thousand and one Nights” after I learned to read. I dreamed of blue skies and palm trees, golden domes and exotic sultans in jewelled turbans; harems filled with beautiful young women, fountains and flowers. It was all such a dream after the coldness and grey skies and uneventful daily life of my home. At age eleven I published a poem called “Minarets of Morocco“ which indicated my mindset. Later on I was given a copy of “The Rubiayat of Omar Khayyam”. Although I was too young to appreciate the sadness of time passing, the simple and evocative verses have always moved me. Another book given to me at that time was “The Wilder Shores of Love” by Lesley Blanche which told true stories of European women in previous centuries who had been lured by the Orient and set off to the East looking for romance and excitement. Over the years I was fortunate enough to visit Iraq and Iran, Turkey and Uzbekistan, Yemen and Oman, Syria and Lebanon, Libya and Tunisia - before the clouds of war and globalisation overtook them. How lucky I was to have seen Damascus and Baghdad, Isfahan and Istanbul, Samarkand and Bhokara where ghosts of the past still lurked. I have visited the tombs of the Persian poets, Sa’di and Hafiz in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz and the Ikalto Academy of Rustaveli in Georgia When I found myself in Georgia, I was intrigued by old stories and pictures of times past with mysterious Georgian women in silken pyjamas with thin veils over beautiful faces and wild men who danced on their toes in smart coats decorated with cartridges. There I discovered the great Georgian medieval classic verse story by Rustaveli, “The Knight in the Panther Skin”. The inspiration for this book came to me through my artist neighbour, Sofia Varazi of Tbilisi, who paints elegant Oriental characters. I met Daryoush Khorasani from Tehran whose brother is a famous Persian calligrapher there. I discovered that my friend Maia Kipshidze from Tbilisi is also a calligrapher in the unique Georgian language. My own humble offering can be translations into English taken from Georgian and Farsi sources. We have not attempted direct translation. Each participant in this venture has chosen verses which appeal in their own languages. Both Maia and Kourosh made their own selections; hopefully my English choices will have universal resonance. Sofia’s paintings are becoming internationally famous. Thus our book, “The Lure of the Orient” is the culmination of all my dreams and hopefully will add a dreamlike quality to the lives of those who look at these pages. Edna Fortescue
THOUGHTS ON PERSIAN ARTISTS AND POETS The tradition of Persian painting has flourished since the 13th century, particularly its miniatures. The style has been copied and embellished by artists right up to modern times. Beautiful glazed tiles with paintings and calligrapy can be found in museums and mosques, first fired many centuries ago. Flowers and trees remain forever fresh, bringing light and colour to their surroundings with a link to their historic past. The first Persian poet to burst into Western consciousness was Omar Khayyam when his Rubiayat was translated into English by the Victorian scholar, Edward Fitzgerald in 1851. It has remained in print ever since. Omar Khayyam was the astronomer poet of Persia, who lived from 1050 to 1123 in Naishapur. Jeluddin Rumi, who lived from 1207 to 1273 was born in Balkh, Afghanistan. and moved to Konya in modern-day Turkey. There he studied and developed his Sufi philosophy which is perhaps best known internationally for its whirling dervishs. Rumi is still considered one of the world’s greatest mystic poets. His epic Rubiayat consists of 1,659 verses. Likewise the shrine of Persia’s great 14th century poet Hafiz in Shiraz has become a major centre of pilgrimage, along with that of his predecessor Firdouzi (940-1020). Georgia’s legendary poet, Shota Rustaveli, is a household name in his homeland. His reputation is bound up with Queen Tamar who reigned from 1184 to 1213. The ruins of the Ikhalto Academy where he studied and worked are still visible and much visited. Formerly Georgians would learn much of “The Knight in the Panther Skin” by heart. The book was translated by an English aristocrat, Marjory Wardrop and published l912, when it became more widely known.
CONTRIBUTORS ARTIST: SOFIA VARAZI Sofia Varazi was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. She has exhibited in Sydney, Australia, Moscow and Tbilisi; her paintings are in private collections in these cities and in London. She has illustrated children’s books and worked on documentary films. Sofia’s studio is in Sololaki, the historic area of Tbilisi. varazi.sofia@gmail.com
PERSIAN CALLIGRAPHER: KOUROSH KHORASANI Kourosh was born in Tehran in l966 and is now Senior Manager Planning and sales promotion of Iran Air. He is a keen sportsman but his over-riding interest is in Persian calligraphy. He has been studying and translating for ten years, and is now a recognised master of this ancient, beautiful art form. He is a member of the Institute of Calligraphy, and has translated books, journals and articles in the scientific and academic community of Iran. The Persian calligraphy in this book was specially designed by Kourosh. Daryoush Khorasani, his brother, is based in Tbilisi and is Manager and Chief Pilot of FlyGeorgia. He has been the liaison gobetween from Tehran to Tbilisi and we appreciate that he has made the project possible.
GEORGIAN LITERARY CONSULTANT: MAIA KIPSHIDZE Currently Maia Kipshidze works as the Director of the Diplomatic Training Centre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Georgia. Previously she was the Director of Programmes for the British Council for six years. Prior to the above Maia worked for ten years as Press and Public Affairs Officer at the British Embassy Tbilisi. After obtaining her MA degree at Warwick University in the UK, Maia became a lecturer in British Studies and English History at Tbilisi State University. She published her own textbook, “A Short History of England”.
Omar Khayyam Awake! For morning in the Bowl of Night Has Flung the Stone that put the Stars to Flight And lo! The Hunter of the East has caught The Sultan’s Turret in a Noose of Light.
omar xaiami Tendeba d a mamalic yivis, rogorc rigia. ra atirebs? mwuxare gana ufro igia! vai, rogor garbian Cveni yofnis dReebi, mTeli Rame wasula, Cven ki ar gagvigia!
8
Oriental Dawn
From Persian to Georgian
Shota Rustaveli This Persian tale, now done into Georgian has hitherto been like a pearl of great price cast in play from hand to hand. Now I have found it and mounted it in a setting of verse. I have done a praiseworthy deed. The ravisher of my reason, proud and beautiful, Without me to do it.
SoTa rusTaveli ese ambavi sparsuli, qarTulad naTargmanebi, viT margaliti oboli, xelis-xel sagogmanebi, vpove da leqsad gardavTqvi, saqme vqmen saWoWmanebi, Cemman xel-mqmnelman dammarTos laRman da lamazma nebi.
11
Shota Rustaveli The king built a house, and in it a dwelling for the maid. For stone he used bezoar (with magical healing properties), cut jacinth and rubies. In front was a little garden and a fountain of rose-water for bathing. There abode she for whom a furnace of ame consumes me. SoTa rusTaveli he RmerTo erTo, Sen Sehqmen saxe yovlisa tanisa, Sen damifare, Zleva mec daTrgunvad me satanisa, momec mijnurTa survili, sikvdimde gasatanisa, codvaTa Sesubuqeba, mun Tana wasatanisa.
12
Lover’s Haven
Patience
Jelaluddin Rumi The patience of a rose close to a thorn keeps it fragrant. It’s patience that give milk to the male camel, still nursing in its Third year, and patience is what the prophets show to us.
jelal ed-dini rumi ra saamoa, rom am sofelSi Cems mwuxarebas ar aqvs samani. qancmileuli mival gzazeda, Tvaluwieri midevs savali. oh, rarig mtanjavs tkivili, magram Cirad ar miRirs misi wamali.
15
Jelaluddin Rumi The birds have own to freedom, the cage lies empty. Your happy songs bring to me the scent of heaven. Please keep singing.
jelal ed-dini rumi jerac ar vici, me var Tu me me ara var, raRac saocar yofaSi var, me me ara var. siyvaruli var, moyvaruli Tu sayvareli? var gaognebis jamiT mTvrali, me me ara var. vina var ,ra var, usaxelo raRac qimera, me sul sxva arsis niRabi var, me me ara var. maradisobis SenivTuli, suli mokvdavi, raRac didebis mwvervali var, me me ara var.
16
Sweet Life
Fragrant Love
Firdausi When gracefully towards Ardashir she came, Clad in jewels and the scent of musk and amber, She lifted his head from the precious silken pillow And, when he awoke, she tightly embraced him.
firdousi roca moxdenilad ardaSirisken is wamovida samkaulebSi gamowyobili muSkis da qarvis surnels afrqvevda man mas Zvirfasi abreSumis baliSidan Tavi aawevina da gaaxila Tu ara Tvali, mswrafl/magrad Caekona.
19
Firdausi Daughter of the King am I, From the stock of leopards and panthers. There is none so royal in the whole world as me Beneath the wheel of the ďŹ rmament there are very few like me. No man has ever seen me beyond the curtain; No man has ever heard my voice.
firdousi ......Tahmine var, mefis asuli me Senma ndomam gamomtaca guli da suli. me mefeTagan gulistolad arvin Semferis, radgan cisqveSe arsad aris qali Cemferi! uTavsaburod da uCadrod jer arcerT mnaxvels ar daunaxavs Suqis mfrqvevi es Cemi saxe.
20
Lonely Princess
The Fire of Love
Hafiz At the beginning your beauty shone with rays of glory. Love came and set the whole world on ďŹ re.
hafezi ise mwyurodi, ise msurda alersi Seni, da eg bageni, iagundis naTelis mCeni... meti ra giTxra, damibrundio, damibrundi, Torem lodinma momiswrafa sicocxlis dReni.
23
Simin Behbehani Like a tree in spring, my life is full of blossom, I have a lap full of owers - who should I give them to? Oh, breeze of life, come to me tonight, As otherwise I will not last so full of owers till dawn
saadi sicocxles mijobs, siyvarulis dameces mexi. mefobas mijobs,Sens winaSe movdriko kexi. Zneli ar aris Sens fexTa qveS mtvrad gadaqcva, magram vaiTu amarido lamazi fexi.
24
Life Full of Blossom
Noble Knight
Shota Rustaveli Suddenly there appears a knight, morose and gloomy of visage, Seated on a black horse, black as Pegasus. His head and form Were clad in a panther’s skin with the fur outside, and beauty such As his has never been seen by man before
SoTa rusTaveli naxes uxco moyme vinme jda mtirali wylisa pirsa, Savi cxeni sadaviTa hyva lomsa da viTa gmirsa, xSirad esxa margaliti lagam-abjar-unagirsa. cremlsa vardi daeTrTvila, gulsa mduRrad anatirsa.
27
Shota Rustaveli They bought out incomparable gifts from the wealthy Phridon: Nine pearls in size like a goose’s egg; also one gem like to the sun with Augmented ray: before it at night a painter could have painted a picture. Likewise he presented to each a necklace to throw over the neck, of gems Cut into spheres, of whole jacinths.
SoTa rusTaveli moiRes ZRveni usaxo fridonis ar-alqatisa, cxra margaliti, sididiT marT viTa kvercxi batisa, kvla erTi samsgavso mzisa Suq-monamatisa, mas wina RamiT Zal edvis mxatvarsa xatva xatisa.
28
Jewels Beyond Price
All Evolves
Jelalludin Rumi Passing, passing, The blossom gives way to the fruit. Both are necessary, One passes into another. Bread exists to be broken To sustain the purpose. The grape on the wine Is wine in the making. Crush it and it comes alive. qesai vardi ganZia, samoTxidan movlinebuli, sikeTes hmatebs adamins surneli suli, vards verxclze rom cvli, gamyidvelo, erTi miTxari, vardze ukeTess ras SeiZen vardebis fuliT.
31
Omar Khayyam Oh, come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise To talk: one thing is certain, that Life ies; One thing is certain, and the Rest is lies. The ower that once had blown forever dies.
omar xaiami Rvinis mdinare, feriebi da lxinis taxti, miTxres, geliso samoTxeSi,Tu Rirsi gaxdi, amivse Tasi wminda RviniT da momawode, aTas nisias mirCevnia es erTi naRdi.
32
Come with Old Khayyam
The Game of Life
Omar Khayyam “Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays; Hither and thither moves, and mates and stays. And one by one back in the closet lays.
omar xaiami bedi Wadraks TamaSobs, Cven ki vgaavrT paikebs. tyuils ar geubnebi, marTlas vambob, gaige! mTeli Cveni cxovreba erTi saTamaSoa, dRe mova da aqedan guda-nabads aikref!
35
Jelaluddin Rumi Be motivated like a falcon, Hunt gloriously. Be magniďŹ cent as the leopard, Fight to win. Spend less time with nightingales and peacocks. One is all talk, the other only colour
hafezi tirifis msgavsad gaTrTolebdes bedi da xvedri, Tan dReniadag imedovne cvlileba mkveTri. me saboloo ferad Savi feri msmenia, maS, es Savi Tma, miTxar,raRam gaxada TeTri?
36
Follow the Wild
Rose Without Thornes
Shota Rustaveli I entered the garden. I met none to speak to me. The maid met me merry, smiling. She said: I have bravely extracted the thorn from my heart, it is no longer therein. Come and see the rose, unfaded, unwithered. SoTa rusTaveli mijnuroba aris turfa, sacodnelad Zneli gvari; mijnuroba sxva ramea, ar siZvisa dasadari: igi sxvaa, siZva sxvaa, Sua uzis didi zRvari, nuvin garevT erTmaneTsa! gesmis Cemi naubari?
39
Jelaluddin Rumi When you see lovers, don’t pass them by. Sit with them. The fire of love warms the world, But even fire dies in the company of ashes.
abu saidi dRe ise gadis, rom ar ZalmiZs viRono rame, yofna-aryofnis safiqralSi ileva Rame, gadis cxovreba, romlis wamic mTel qveynad fasobs da me fiqrebSi fuWad vkargav am Zvirfas wamebs.
40
Love Warms the World
Dreaming
Shota Rustaveli To a lover, beauty, glorious beauty, wealth, generosity, Youth and leisure are ďŹ tting, He must be eloquent, intelligent, an Overcomer of mighty adversaries. He who has not all these qualities Lacks the character of a lover! SoTa rusTaveli mijnursa Tvalad siturfe marTebs, marT viTa mzeoba, sibrZne, siuxve, simdidre, siyme da mocaleoba, ena, goneba, daTmoba, mZleTa mebrZolTa mZleoba. visca es srulad ara sWirs, aklia mijnurT zneoba.
43
Jelaluddin Rumi On my heart in beautiful calligraphy You’ve written words That only you and I can know. Their secret you promised to reveal one day But now I see you were only teasing.
hafezi swored moiqca, vinc baRnarSi, wyaros napirTan, moilxina da mwuxarebas gaunapirda, Cveni sicocxle, vardis msgavsad, aTdRiani, nuras inaRvli, es sawuTro vis ras dahpirda?!
44
Love Letter
Eyes - Mirrors of the Soul
Jelaluddin Rumi My heart is so small, its almost invisible How can you place such big sorrows in it? “Look”, he answered. “Your eyes are even smaller, yet thay behold the world.”
omar xaiami mTvralma bulbulma gza gaigno baRisken RamiT, hpova vardi da lalis RviniT mRimari Jami, Cemad moiqca da miTxra, rom warsul dReTagan kvlav ukan aRar dabrundeba arc erTi wamiT.
47
Omar Khayyam The moving ďŹ nger writes, and having writ Moves on; nor all thy Piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line. Nor all thy tears wasb out a word of it. omar xaiami nu ufrTxi ama sawuTros srbolas Jinians, TviT xvedri Seni warmavali drois Jinia, es erTi wami, sicocxlisa, laRad icxovre, nu naRvlob warsuls da momavlis nu geSinia.
48
No Regrets
The Songbird is Silent
Omar Khayyam Alas, that Spring should vanish with the Rose! That Youth’s sweet scented Manuscript should close. The nightingale that in the Branches sang, Oh whence, and whither own again, who knows? omar xaiami CamoTavda yrmobis wigni ise, rogorc wyali, afsus, norCi gazafxuli, siWabukiT mTvrali, an is mtredi raRa iqna, balRoba rom erqva, hau, ise gamifrinda, verc movkari Tvali...
51
Omar Khayyam Ah, Moon of my Delight who knows no wane, The Moon of Heaven is rising once again, How oft hereafter rising shall she look Through the same garden after me - in vain.
omar xaiami cxovrebis wignSi vmkiTxaobdi CemTvis am diliT, romeliRac brZens uTqvams Turme gulis wadiliT, netar ars igi, visac satrfo exveva RamiT da roca Rame grZeliao weliwadiviT.
52
Moonlight Garden
Time Dreaming to Eternity
Shota Rustaveli Their tale is ended like a dream of the night. They are passed away, gone beyond the world. Behold the treachery of time; to him who thinks it long, Even for him, it is of a moment.
SoTa rusTaveli gasrulda maTi ambavi viTa sizmari Ramisa. gardaxdes, gavles sofeli, naxeT simuxTle Jamisa! vis grZlad hgonia, misTvisca aris erTisa wamisa. vwer vinme mesxi meleqse me rusTvelisa damisa.
55
aRmosavleTis xibli
The Lure of the Orient