Omar Khayyam

Born in Nishapur in the 11th century, Omar Khayyam was educated in religious studies, language, philosophy, and mathematics. He became one of the leading scholars of his age, contributing important work to algebra and astronomy as well as writing poetry in Persian.

Khayyam helped develop the Jalali calendar, a highly accurate solar calendar, and studied the geometric solution of cubic equations. He is best known today for the Rubáiyát, a collection of quatrains that reflect on time, beauty, uncertainty, and the fleeting nature of life.

Although the details of his life and the exact number of poems attributed to him remain uncertain, his influence has endured across science and literature. His poetry reached a wide English-speaking audience through Edward FitzGerald’s celebrated 19th-century adaptation.