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AFewWords about
Shota Rustaveli's
The Knight in the Panther's Skin
And its Translator into Kurdish
Hardlyany literaryworkthroughout history ofworld literature has ever won such recognition and love
in the homeland as it fell to the lot ofthe brilliant epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin by Shota
Rustaveli, a Georgian poet ofthe Middle Ages.
ShotaRustaveli is deservedlymentioned alongwith the intemationalJyknown classics ofworld literature,
such as Ferdoussi, Nizami Ganjavi, Shakespeare, Dante and others.
The Georgian nation has ancient history and rich culture. Georgia, the native land ofthe Georgians, is
situated in the region ofthe Southern Caucasus between the Biack and Caspian Seas, at thejuncture of
Europe andAsia, hence, at the crossroad ofworldtrade routes and different religions and cultures. Georgia
is distinguished for its remarkable natural conditions, amicable people and varied agriculture.
Because ofstrategic importance ofGeorgia's territory, the country often got involved in the sphere of
political. economic andmilitaryinterestsofthe other nations. Throughout centuries, Georgians hadto fîght
desperately for the defence oftheir native soil from the Romans, By^antines, Mongols, Seljuk Turks and
other conquerors who invaded the country with sword and fire.
The history ofGeorgian people is a history of a heroic struggle for freedom and independence, to
which, from its part, can be compared the destiny ofthe Kurd people.
In the 1 1th-12th centuries, Georgia reached the peak ofits political and military power. During this
period, Georgjan culture flourished and the country's economy was on the high level ofdevelopment
In the beginning ofthe 12th century, a wise politician and brilliant soldier, King David IV the Builder
managed to free the country from invaders and thereby completed the unification ofGeorgia's territories
and built a powerful Georgian State. In succeeding years ofthe century, in the epoch ofKing George DI
andhis daughter, QueenTamar, the entire Caucasianregion, hanianAzerbaijan, Armenia, the southeastern
coastal regions ofthe Black Sea and the territory up to Lake Vani came under the Georgian control. The
newly formed Trebizond Empire was also dependent ofGeorgia.
All that significantly increased Georgia's role and importance. Georgiabecame a strong and influential
state ofrich culture in the Middle East and Asia Minor.
This period ofGeorgia's historyis not marked with the political and miUtary achievements only, but also
withthe development ofGeorgianculture includingliterature, science, philosophy, theology, art; newscientifîc
centres came into being and cultural and trade relations withthe foreign countries expanded.
It is noteworthy that the Georgian kings, regardless oftheir mihtarymight achieved in that period of
historyofthe nation, displayed tolerance to the otherpeoples, respected theirrehgions, languages, cultures
andtraditions.
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