Images of philosophers in the poem of Nizami Ganjavi "Iskender-name"

Abstract

Literary works dedicated to the Macedonian king and famous commander Alexander the Great were created both in the West and the East. At the same time, the lack of precise information about him allowed authors to attribute any features they desired to his image. The literary portrayal of Alexander differs significantly between the East and the West.

In the West, Alexander is known primarily as a great conqueror and military leader. His achievements in creating one of the largest empires of the ancient world and his military campaigns are still admired today. In Western tradition, he often serves as a symbol of military valor and strategic genius. He is also recognized as a patron of science and culture, whose campaigns contributed to the spread of Greek culture and knowledge.

In the East, Alexander is depicted as a wise ruler, endowed with divine grace, and called to spread truth and justice. For the first time, the image of Alexander the Great became the center of a major poetic work in the poem of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi. In “Iskender-name”, Nizami presented him not only as a conqueror but also as a man seeking knowledge and truth, traveling the world in search of wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.

Unlike the West, which focused primarily on Alexander's military campaigns in distant lands, the East paid attention to Iskander's connection with Aristotle. The popularity of this philosopher, as well as Plato and Socrates, known thanks to him, was very great, influencing even Muslim philosophy. The main philosophers in Nizami Ganjavi’s poem “Iskender-name” are Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato. The image of Aristotle symbolizes wisdom and rational thinking. He helps Iskender overcome difficulties and encourages him to strive for fair governance. The image of Plato helps to highlight the importance of the metaphysical and idealistic aspects of philosophy that shape Iskender's worldview. The image of Socrates is present in the poem as a symbol of wisdom and philosophical self-knowledge. This image helps the author emphasize the importance of ethical behaviour and justice in governance. The images of philosophers play an important role in the poem, reflecting the deep philosophical and ethical ideas that the poet sought to convey in his work. These images serve not only to enlighten the protagonist, but also to convey deep philosophical truths to the reader.