Tehran, IRNA - The Iranian poet Nezami Ganjavi is mostly known for composing the Khamsa or Panj Ganj, a set of five long narrative poems known as the Khamsa (Quintet or Quinary) of Panj Ganj (Five Treasures).

Nezami's complete name was Jamal ad-Din Abu Moḥammad Ilyas ibn-Yusof ibn-Zakki. The 12th-century Iranian Muslim poet is considered the greatest epic-romance poet in Persian Literature. His heritage is dearly appreciated by people in many West Asian countries.

March 12 is named Nezami Day in Iran to commemorate the great influential poet. 

A page from Nezami's Leyli and Majnun


The Khamsa or Panj Ganj consists of five long poems, including Makhzan-ol-Asrar (The Treasury of Mysteries), Khosrow and Shirin, Leyli and Majnun, Eskandar-Nameh (The Book of Alexander), Haft Peykar (The Seven Beauties).


According to his own poems, he got married three times. Nezami pointed out to his wife's death at the end of composing the Khowsrow and Shirin poem, his second wife passed away at the end of Leyli and Majnun poem, and his third wife died at the end of Sharafnameh (The Book of Honor).


Nezami had two children, one of whom passed away as a child. Nezami has lauded his second child, Mohammad,  in many of his works such as Leyli and Majnun, Khosrow and Shirin, as well as Haft Peykar.


Different historians mentioned various dates for Nezami's birth and demise, but some say he lived 1141 to 1209.


The influence of his poems is still obvious in Iranian culture and many of his lyrics are being heard nowadays. 


His lyric style was welcomed by other poets such as Amir Khosrow Dehlavi, Khwaju Kermani, and Abdulrahman Jami, who composed some lyric poems as well. 


Haft Peykar was translated into English in 1924 by Charles Edward Wilson.

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