'Alqama ibn 'Abada
Encyclopedia
'Alqama ibn 'Ubada , Arabic علقمة بن عبدة generally known as 'Alqama al-Fahl علقمة الفحل , an Arab
ian poet
of the tribe Tamim, who flourished in the second half of the 6th century.
Of his life practically nothing is known except that his chief poem concerns an incident in the wars between the Lakhmids
and the Ghassanids. Even the date of this is doubtful, but it is generally referred to the period after the middle of the 6th century. His poetic description of ostrich
es is said to have been famous among the Arabs. His diwan consists of three qasida
s (elegies
) and eleven fragments. Asma'i considered three of the poems genuine.
The poems were edited by Albert Socin with Latin translation as Die Gedichte des 'Alkama Alfahl (Leipzig, 1867), and are contained in Wilhelm Ahlwardt's The Diwans of the six ancient Arabic Poets (London, 1870); cf. Ahlwardt's Bemerkungen über die Echtheit der alten arabischen Gedichte (Greifswald, 1872), pp. 65–71 and 146-168.
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
ian poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the tribe Tamim, who flourished in the second half of the 6th century.
Of his life practically nothing is known except that his chief poem concerns an incident in the wars between the Lakhmids
Lakhmids
The Lakhmids , Banu Lakhm , Muntherids , were a group of Arab Christians who lived in Southern Iraq, and made al-Hirah their capital in 266. Poets described it as a Paradise on earth, an Arab Poet described the city's pleasant climate and beauty "One day in al-Hirah is better than a year of...
and the Ghassanids. Even the date of this is doubtful, but it is generally referred to the period after the middle of the 6th century. His poetic description of ostrich
Ostrich
The Ostrich is one or two species of large flightless birds native to Africa, the only living member of the genus Struthio. Some analyses indicate that the Somali Ostrich may be better considered a full species apart from the Common Ostrich, but most taxonomists consider it to be a...
es is said to have been famous among the Arabs. His diwan consists of three qasida
Qasida
The qaṣīdaᵗ , in Arabic: قصيدة, plural qasā'id, قــصــائـد; in Persian: قصیده , is a form of lyric poetry that originated in preIslamic Arabia...
s (elegies
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
) and eleven fragments. Asma'i considered three of the poems genuine.
The poems were edited by Albert Socin with Latin translation as Die Gedichte des 'Alkama Alfahl (Leipzig, 1867), and are contained in Wilhelm Ahlwardt's The Diwans of the six ancient Arabic Poets (London, 1870); cf. Ahlwardt's Bemerkungen über die Echtheit der alten arabischen Gedichte (Greifswald, 1872), pp. 65–71 and 146-168.