The Knight in the Panther's Skin

Shota Rustaveli

The Knight in the Panther's Skin is a renowned medieval epic poem penned by the Georgian luminary, Shota Rustaveli. Held in great reverence in Georgian literature, this masterwork is often heralded as the national epic of Georgia. Set against a backdrop of chivalric romance and courtly love, the narrative unfolds tales of valor, friendship, and unwavering loyalty. The protagonists, Avtandil and Tariel, embody the epitome of knightly virtues as they embark on quests, facing myriad challenges in their pursuit of the noble cause of love. Rustaveli's verses not only paint vivid imagery of the medieval world but also delve deep into the human psyche, exploring emotions, ethics, and the complexities of relationships. Through intertwining tales of heroes, maidens, and kingdoms, "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" serves as both a captivating romantic epic and a profound reflection on the human condition.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• 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