The Knight in the Panther's Skin

Shot'ha Rust'haveli

Georgia is a central Asian region which is situated in the mountains between the Black and Caspian seas. This, the 'Man in the Panther Skin' (also known as 'the Knight in the Panther Skin') is a 12th century medieval epic poem. It is considered one of the masterpieces of Georgian literature, and has been called the Georgian national epic. The author, Prince Shota Rustaveli, was a noble in the court of Queen Tamar, and served as her treasurer. He was also a painter who created frescoes in the Georgian monastery of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. We do not know specific birth and death dates for Rustaveli. The poem was first printed in 1712 in Tblisi. This translation is, thankfully, into clearly written prose, unlike some of the awful 19th century attempts to versify translated poetry. Wardrop's translation, which she modestly called an attempt, makes enjoyable reading.The poem, strangely enough, is not set in Georgia, but in fictionalized versions of Arabia, Persia, India and fairy-tale lands set in the environs of the Indian Ocean. (However the characters are at one point described as speaking fluent Georgian!) There are two chief male protagonists, Avt'handil and Tariel. Tariel, the eponymous 'Knight in the Panther's Skin' is made heir to all India, but tragically falls in love with his adoptive sister, Nestan. Driven mad by this love, he ends up killing the man she is to marry and fleeing India. Nestan is also spirited away to parts unknown. The search for Nestan, described as radiant as the sun, so beautiful that everyone she meets falls in love with her, is the central thread of the story. Avt'handil, the suitor of the Queen of Arabia T'hinat'hin, sees Tariel wandering disconsolate one day and goes in quest of this mysterious knight. Eventually they meet up and after a long quest end up finding Nestan. Nestan and Tariel marry, and Avt'handil marries T'hinat'hin. I have appended a short synopis of the story to this etext, based on my reading notes.

Table of contents

• Preface
• Introductory Quatrains
• 1. Story Of Rostevan, King Of The Arabians
• 2. How The King Of The Arabians Saw The Knight Clad In The Panther's Skin
• 3. Avt’handil's Letter To His Vassals
• 4. Avt’handil Sets Forth In Quest Of Tariel
• 5. The Telling Of His Tale By Tariel When He First Told It To Avt’handil
• 6. Tariel Tells The Tale Of His Falling In Love When He First Fell In Love
• 7. First Letter Written By Nestan-Daredjan To Her Lover
• 8. First Letter Written By Tariel To His Beloved
• 9. Tariel Writes A Letter And Sends A Man To The Khatavians
• 10. The Letter Written By The King Of The Khatavians In Answer To Tariel
• 11. Letter Of Tariel To The King Of The Indians When He Triumphed Over The Khatavians
• 12. Letter Of Nestan-Daredjan Written To Her Beloved
• 13. Tariel's Letter In Answer To His Beloved
• 14. Tariel Hears Tidings Of The Loss Of Nestan-Daredjan
• 15. The Story Of Nuradin P’hridon When Tariel Met Him On The Seashore
• 16. Tariel's Aid To P’hridon, And Their Victory Over Their Foes
• 17. P’hridon Tells Tariel Tidings Of Nestan-Daredjan
• 18. The Story Of Avt’handil's Return To Arabia After He Had Found And Parted From Tariel
• 19. Avt’handil's Request To King Rostevan, And The Vizier's Discourse And Entreaty
• 20. Avt’handil's Discourse With Shermadin When He Stole Away
• 21. The Testament Of Avt’handil To King Rostevan When He Stole Away
• 22. Avt’handil's Prayer In The Mosque, And His Flight
• 23. King Rostevan Hears Of Avt’handil's Secret Flight
• 24. Avt’handil's Second Departure And Meeting With Tariel
• 25. Here Is The Going Of Tariel And Avt’handil To The Cave, And Their Seeing Of Asmat’h
• 26. Of The Going Of Avt’handil To P’hridon's When He Met Him At Mulghazanzar
• 27. Of Avt’handil's Going To P’hridon's When He Parted From Tariel
• 28. Avt’handil's Departure From P’hridon To Seek Nestan-Daredjan
• 29. The Story Of Avt’handil's Arrival In Gulansharo
• 30. Avt’handil's Arrival At P’hatman's; Her Reception Of Him And Her Joy
• 31. P’hatman Becomes Enamoured Of Avt’handil; Writes Him A Letter And Sends It
• 32. The Letter Of Love Written By P’hatman To Avt’handil
• 33. Avt’handil's Letter In Answer To P’hatman's
• 34. Here Is The Slaying Of The Chachnagir And His Two Guards By Avt’handil
• 35. P’hatman Tells Avt’handil The Story Of Nestan-Daredjan
• 36. The Story Of The Capture Of Nestan-Daredjan By The Kadjis, Told By P’hatman To Avt’handil
• 37. Letter Written By P’hatman To Nestan-Daredjan
• 38. The Letter Written By Nestan-Daredjan To P’hatman
• 39. The Letter Written By Nestan-Daredjan To Her Beloved
• 40. Avt’handil's Letter To P’hridon
• 41. Avt’handil's Departure From Gulansharo, And His Meeting With Tariel
• 42. Tariel And Avt’handil Go To P’hridon
• 43. The Council Of P’hridon, Avt’handil And Tariel As To The Assault On The Castle Of Kadjet’hi
• 44. The Going Of Tariel To The King Of The Seas And To P’hridon's
• 45. The Wedding Of Tariel And Nestan By P’hridon
• 46. Tariel Goes Again To The Cave And Sees The Treasure
• 47. Here Is The Marriage Of Avt’handil And T’hinat’hin By The King Of The Arabs
• APPENDICES