Khayyam

Khayyam is the name by which Omar Khayyam, a Persian polymath of the 11th and early 12th centuries, is commonly known. He was born in 1048 in Nishapur, in the region of Khorasan, and died there in 1131. Khayyam is celebrated for his contributions across mathematics, astronomy, and poetry, and his life is closely linked to the scholarly circles of the Islamic Golden Age.

In mathematics, Khayyam produced influential treatises on algebra and geometry. He examined the solution of polynomial equations, including cubic equations, and developed geometric methods for solving them. He also explored the properties of conic sections and their use in constructing solutions, contributing to the broader development of algebra and analytic geometry in his era.

In astronomy, Khayyam wrote works that reflected sophisticated observational and mathematical approaches. He is widely recognized for his role in calendar reform, contributing to the establishment of the Jalali calendar around 1079–1080. The Jalali calendar was designed to be highly accurate solar calendar and remained influential for centuries.

Khayyam is perhaps best known in the public imagination for his poetry. He wrote in Persian and is associated with the quatrain form known as the rubaiyat. Although the precise attribution of some verses remains debated, his poetry was compiled and popularized over time, especially in translations such as Edward FitzGerald’s 19th-century renditions, which helped make Khayyam a global literary figure.

His legacy endures in both the scientific and literary traditions of Persian culture. Khayyam’s name is linked with rigorous inquiry and with lyric expression, marking him as a prominent symbol of intellectual and poetic achievement in the region’s history.