Talk:Shota Rustaveli/Archive 1

Archive 1

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I am a journalist working on the story of Shota Rustaveli. I am trying to gather the last research accounts on his life. It is well known he wrote the great poem "The knight in the panter's skeen" and that he dedicated it to Queen Tamar. It's also known he was her Finance Minister. It's known he went to Jerusalem to the Hly Cross Monastery and died there. The riddle is - was he exiled as a result of what he wrote about his love to her? Does anyone know more about this question mark? Please let me know. My Email is: arad2@netvision.net.il Thanks for your hints, S.Arad, Jerusalem

Shota Rustaveli

Arad, if you still need help, this is my mail ritsa95h@yahoo.com (T-A IL)

Somebody should rewrite this article in English

"In the Institute of Manuscripts ... are two leaves.." It's a word-for-word translation from Russian, besides clearly pages not leaves.

"All other lists of the poem belong ..." Probably from Russian "списки рукописи", unfortunately "list" does not have the same meaning in English.

Shota Rustaveli Portrait

One of the illustrations in this article has the following caption: "Shota Rustaveli, a painting by the French artist Fliert based on an old Georgian manuscript. 1852". I was wondering if anyone can identify the old Georgian manuscript on which it is based? It appears that this may be the model for the illustration I uploaded, which is a niello portrait. It would be interesting to include an image of the original illustration, if possible, for comparison, as it seems to be a model on which a number of portraits were based. --Picatrix (talk) 15:15, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Also, as far as I can tell this portrait is a cover for a purse, or coin pouch. I've come across a number of these in my travels. I wonder if anyone can tell me more about the use of decorative silver panels with portraits on the covers of purses or pouches. I've seen a number from the Caucasus - some with old photos, some with niello portraits. --Picatrix (talk) 15:22, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Hi Picatrix. The portrait in question can be found in the 17th-century manuscript of Rustveli's poem (the so-called Princess Thecla codex). It had long been considered to be the earliest surviving portrait of the poet before the fresco in Jerusalem was (re)discovered in the 1960s. Thus, it was widely copied and imitated. As for the covers of purses or pouches, indeed it was a popular form of applied arts in the Caucasus, especially in the 19th century. Unfortunately, I have no detailed information about that though. Best regards, --Kober^Talk 15:37, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Kober. I appreciate the information. Do you know where an image of this original can be found? I assume it is not posted here because of copyright issues? --Picatrix (talk) 15:40, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

You are welcome. The original is actually in public domain because of its age. I have that image in my collection and will upload it in a few minutes. The quality is not very good, however.--Kober^Talk 15:49, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

Here it is: