Literary and Linguistic Notes (1)
Document Type : pajoohesh
Author
10.22081/jap.2024.76678
Abstract
Two Controversial Phrases in Dīwān of Ḫāqānī Širvānī
This note discusses briefly two controversial phrases in two odes by Ḫāqānī Širvānī (c.a. 12th century), namely "ḫaṭṭ-e tarsā" 'Christian script' and "setāre-bastan" 'to set a curtain' (or alternatively, "setār-bastan" 'to play Setār (a musical instrument)'. Firstly I discuss the phrase "Christian Script"; this phrase has traditionally been defined as "an alphabet used by Christians", the precise concept it denotes however, has been disputed among the modern scholars. Thus, various alphabets such as Greek, Latin, Armenian and Syriac have been suggested as the possible answers. I discuss the shortcomings of these suggestions and argue that the "Christian Script" denotes the Georgian alphabet. Finally, I discuss the phrase "Setāre-bastan". Challenging the common reading of the phrase as "setār-bastan" 'playing Setār' I argue that the accurate reading is "setāre-bastan" meaning 'to set a curtain'.
This note discusses briefly two controversial phrases in two odes by Ḫāqānī Širvānī (c.a. 12th century), namely "ḫaṭṭ-e tarsā" 'Christian script' and "setāre-bastan" 'to set a curtain' (or alternatively, "setār-bastan" 'to play Setār (a musical instrument)'. Firstly I discuss the phrase "Christian Script"; this phrase has traditionally been defined as "an alphabet used by Christians", the precise concept it denotes however, has been disputed among the modern scholars. Thus, various alphabets such as Greek, Latin, Armenian and Syriac have been suggested as the possible answers. I discuss the shortcomings of these suggestions and argue that the "Christian Script" denotes the Georgian alphabet. Finally, I discuss the phrase "Setāre-bastan". Challenging the common reading of the phrase as "setār-bastan" 'playing Setār' I argue that the accurate reading is "setāre-bastan" meaning 'to set a curtain'.
Keywords
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