Khayyam

Hakim Abu’l-Fath Omar ibn Ibrahim Khayyam of Nishapur (1047–1131), better known as Omar Khayyam, was a distinguished philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, and poet. Born in Nishapur, he made lasting contributions across several fields of learning.

During the Seljuk period, Khayyam helped establish the royal observatory and reform the Jalali calendar. His work in mathematics, algebra, geometry, and astronomy was exceptional for its time. His major scholarly writings include a commentary on difficult propositions in Euclid, a treatise on determining the quantities of gold and silver in a compound, and Lawazim al-Amkina.

He wrote in both Persian and Arabic and also composed poetry. In his own lifetime he was known chiefly as a scholar and mathematician, but in later centuries his Persian quatrains gained an extraordinary international reputation. Today he is one of the best-known figures in Persian literature, and his ruba‘iyat have appeared in numerous languages.

Khayyam died in Nishapur in 1131. His tomb remains a place of interest for scholars, readers, and admirers of Persian literature.