Qestaki al-Homsi
Encyclopedia
Qusṭākī al-Ḥimṣī was a Syrian writer
and poet
of the Nahda movement (the Arabic renaissance), a prominent figure in the Arabic literature of the 19th and 20th centuries and one of the first reformers of the traditional Arabic poetry. With his book The researcher's source in the science of criticism, al-Himsi is considered to be the founder of modern literary criticism
among the Arab scholars.
. His ancestors have migrated to Aleppo during the first half of the 16th century and embraced the al-Himsi surname. Qustaki al-Himsi was born in 4 February 1858 in Aleppo, his father died when he was 15 years old. He was raised by his mother Sousan Dallal in a well-educated atmosphere. His uncle; the prominent writer Gebrail Dallal had a great influence on him, motivating his love towards the Arabic literature and poetry. He received his preliminary education in the Roman Catholic school of Aleppo. Later, he studied Arabic
and French
literature in the "Terre-Sainte College" of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
in Al-Shibani Church
, Aleppo.
Al-Himsi became a wealthy and successful tradesman, visiting Marseille
and Paris
and other French cities for several occasions. He mastered the French language during his long stays in France
. He left his commercial activities in 1905. After the 1908 revolution
in the Ottoman Empire
, he was elected as a member of the Aleppo city council for many times and once as the assistant of the head of the council.
The cultural knowledge and wealth of al-Himsi was prompted through his vast collection of Arabic and European books and publications, as well as his great love of reading the works of the elite European poets. He was known as the Voyager Poet due to his frequent visits to France
, England
, Italy
, Egypt
, Beirut
and Constantinople
.
In 1922, he was appointed as a member of the Scientific Academy in Damascus.
Despite of his great love of travels, al-Hoimsi lived and worked in Aleppo throughout his life until his death in 1941.
Al-Himsi has left valuable poetry, some of the poems were published in 1907 in Alexandria
, under the name "Songs from the Old Testament" ( Anashid min al-Ahd al-Qadim). Another book; "Selection from the poems of Qustaki al-Himsi" ( Mukhtarat min nozom Qustaki al-Himsi) was published in 1939, in Aleppo.
Al-Himsi had also translated many works from French literature to Arabic language.
Unfortunately, the full collection of his poems remains unpublished.
of Aziziyah district in Aleppo.
The home of Qustaki al-Himsi in Aleppo was turned into a house-museum by the efforts of his grandson.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and 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 Nahda movement (the Arabic renaissance), a prominent figure in the Arabic literature of the 19th and 20th centuries and one of the first reformers of the traditional Arabic poetry. With his book The researcher's source in the science of criticism, al-Himsi is considered to be the founder of modern literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
among the Arab scholars.
Life
The origins of the family of Qustaki al-Himsi is from the al-Mashrouqi family of the Syrian city of HomsHoms
Homs , previously known as Emesa , is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is above sea level and is located north of Damascus...
. His ancestors have migrated to Aleppo during the first half of the 16th century and embraced the al-Himsi surname. Qustaki al-Himsi was born in 4 February 1858 in Aleppo, his father died when he was 15 years old. He was raised by his mother Sousan Dallal in a well-educated atmosphere. His uncle; the prominent writer Gebrail Dallal had a great influence on him, motivating his love towards the Arabic literature and poetry. He received his preliminary education in the Roman Catholic school of Aleppo. Later, he studied Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
literature in the "Terre-Sainte College" of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, or the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary is a Roman Catholic order founded by Sister Mary of the Passion, Helene de Chappotin, in 1877 at Ootacamund, India....
in Al-Shibani Church
Al-Shibani Church
Al-Shibani Building , also called Al-Shibani School and Church is a 12th century religious and cultural centre in the "Al-Jalloum" district, at the heart of the ancient city of Aleppo...
, Aleppo.
Al-Himsi became a wealthy and successful tradesman, visiting Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and other French cities for several occasions. He mastered the French language during his long stays in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He left his commercial activities in 1905. After the 1908 revolution
Young Turk Revolution
The Young Turk Revolution of 1908 reversed the suspension of the Ottoman parliament by Sultan Abdul Hamid II, marking the onset of the Second Constitutional Era...
in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, he was elected as a member of the Aleppo city council for many times and once as the assistant of the head of the council.
The cultural knowledge and wealth of al-Himsi was prompted through his vast collection of Arabic and European books and publications, as well as his great love of reading the works of the elite European poets. He was known as the Voyager Poet due to his frequent visits to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
In 1922, he was appointed as a member of the Scientific Academy in Damascus.
Despite of his great love of travels, al-Hoimsi lived and worked in Aleppo throughout his life until his death in 1941.
Works
- The enchantment of ad-Dallal's poetry ( As-Sihr al-halal fi shi'r ad-Dallal) 1903, CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. - The researcher's source in the science of criticism ( Manhal al-warrad fi elm al-intiqad) 1907, Cairo.
- Prominent scholars of Aleppo in the nineteenth century ( Udabaa Halab zawu al-athar fi al-qarn at-tase' ashar) 1925, Aleppo.
- The mirror of souls ( Miraat an-nufus) 1935, Aleppo.
Al-Himsi has left valuable poetry, some of the poems were published in 1907 in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, under the name "Songs from the Old Testament" ( Anashid min al-Ahd al-Qadim). Another book; "Selection from the poems of Qustaki al-Himsi" ( Mukhtarat min nozom Qustaki al-Himsi) was published in 1939, in Aleppo.
Al-Himsi had also translated many works from French literature to Arabic language.
Unfortunately, the full collection of his poems remains unpublished.
Honours
Qustaki al-Himsi was honoured in his native city of Aleppo by renaming a street at the centre of the city after him. His statue was erected in 1971 at the centre of the Liberty SquareLiberty Square (Aleppo)
The Liberty Square is an important square at the Aziziyah district, downtown Aleppo, Syria.Intersected by Yusuf al-Azma street from the south to the north, the square is considered to be the beginning of Qestaki al-Homsi street and the end of Faris al-Khoury street from the east, where the church...
of Aziziyah district in Aleppo.
The home of Qustaki al-Himsi in Aleppo was turned into a house-museum by the efforts of his grandson.