Akhtal

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Akhtal (Ghiyath ibn Ghawth al-Taghlibi al-Akhtal) (c. 640-710) was one of the most famous Arab poets of the Umayyad period. He belonged to the tribe of Taghlib in Mesopotamia, and was, like his fellow-tribesmen, a Christian, enjoying the freedom of his religion, while not taking its duties very seriously.

Of his private life few details are known, save that he was married and divorced, and that he spent part of his time in Damascus, part with his tribe in Mesopotamia. In the wars of the Taghlibites with the Qaisites he took part in the field, as well as by his satires.

In the literary strife between his contemporaries Jarir ibn Atiyah and Farazdaq, he was induced to support the latter poet. Akhtal, Jarir and Farazdaq form a trio celebrated among the Arabs, but as to relative superiority there is dispute. In the Abbasid period there is no doubt that Akhtal's Christianity told against his reputation, but Abu Ubaydah placed him highest of the three on the ground that among his poems there were ten flawless qasidas (or elegies), and ten more nearly so, and that this could not be said of the other two.

Most of his poems consist of either panegyric of patrons and satire of rivals, the latter being, however, more restrained than was usual at the time.