The Knight in the Panther's Skin |
The Knight in the Panther's Skin ("Vepkhis Tkaosani" in Georgian) is a well-known
epic poem written in the 12th
century (though the earliest surviving copy dates to the 16th century)
by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, who was a Prince, the Treasurer ("Mechurchletukhutsesi") of Queen of Georgia Tamar. The Knight in the Panther's Skin is often
seen as Georgia's national epic. The poem was first printed in 1712, in Tbilisi.
In the poem, Rustaveli sings about humanistic ideals: feelings of love,
friendship, courage and fortitude. The heroes of the poem are brave, philanthropic, and
generous. The heroes of the poem are not restricted to Georgian nationality. The regions of Arabia, China, and India all figure
in the poem.
See also: Shota Rustaveli, Culture of Georgia
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