Amr Ben Koulthoum

' Amr Ben Koulthoum () was an Arab poet of the pre-Islamic period, and would have lived from 450 to 600 after J. - C.

Biography

Abou 'Abbad 'Amr Ben Koulthoum would have been born towards 450 in the tribe from the Taghlib. It would go down from the poet El Mouhalhil from his Laïla mother.

It passed most of its life in war, such as for example during the Guerre of El Basous. He was opposed to the poet El Harith Ben Hilliza during different pled in front of the king from Hira, 'Amr Ben Hind. But the king gives reason to his rival, who expresses in a more flattering way.

The poet has business with the king again, later: the monarch, very conceited, tries to humiliate the mother of the poet; 'Amr Ben Koulthoum kills the king then, and starts a life of wandering then. Captured, it arrives at being released to die out into 600 after J. - C.

Extract

Here is the end of the Mu' allaqât, which shows the pride of the poet and the force of his declaration, translated by Jean-Jacques Schmidt

You can force the others to degrade yourself, but not us We filled up so well the ground which it is not enough Large to contain us, and sea water We covered it with our ships In front of our hardly separated sons, largest monarchs prosternent themselves.

Translation of Pierre Larcher (v. 99-101):

If ever king inflicts humiliation with people,

We refuse to admit that one can lower us!

The ground filled up, with us to make it narrow:

We will cover, of our vessels, sea water!

And one of our sons it has suddenly been separated

How the tyrants fall down in front of him prostrate!

Reference

Mou' allaqât, pre-Islamic Arab poetry , Paris, Seghers (1978).

Mu' allaqât, the Seven pre-Islamic poems , prefaced by André Miquel, translated and with accompanying notes by Pierre Larcher, Éditions the unmemorable ones/Fata Morgana (2000).

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Arab Poetry

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