Born 1141
Died 1209
Nizami, or Neẓāmi, or Nezami Ganjavi was considered to be the greatest epic poet in romantic Persian literature. He was versed in Arabic and Persian literatures and with oral and written popular and local traditions. He was knowledgable in such diverse fields as mathematics, astronomy, astrology, alchemy, medicine, botany, Koranic exegesis, Islamic theory and law, history, ethics, philosophy and esoteric thought, music, and the visual arts.
His work Layli o Majnun [Layla and Majnun] published in 1192 influenced Eric Clapton, providing the title for the hit song Layla, and
Nizami's composition I Am Yours also appears on the first album by Derek & The Dominos.
The
Nizami Museum of Literature, located in Baku, Azerbaijan Republic is dedicated to maintaining the works of this spiritual guide.