Persian Culture

By reading sections of The Rubáiyát and The Manners of Kings, I have learned that Persians are monotheistic and they have a deep respect for their god, Allah. They also believed in living and enjoying life. "Whether the Cup with sweet or bitter run, The Wine of Life keeps oozing drop by drop, The leaves of Life keep falling one by one." They didn't know when they would die, so they lived everyday to the fullest. Their philosophy was carpe diem, which means seize the day in Latin. The Persians didn't just have respect for Allah, they respected all people. They lived by a means of the Golden Rule. "He, who doth right, doth it to his own soul and he, who doth evil, doth against the same." They treated everyone with respect, and believed they would be treated respectfully in return.

Similar Floods

Both floods from The Bible and The Epic of Gilgamesh have many similarities. Both main characters are warned of a flood and instructed to build a boat. Then, they are told to save themselves, their families, and a pair of each kind of animal. Coincidentally, in both stories the boat land on a mountain, and birds were released to find dry land. Then the main character sacrifices an offering.