The Knight in the Panther's Skin
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The Knight in the Panther's Skin ("Vepkhis Tkaosani" in Georgian) is a well-known epic poem written in the 12th century (though the earliest surviving copy dates to the 16th century) by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli, who was a Prince, the Treasurer ("Mechurchletukhutsesi") of Queen of Georgia Tamar. The Knight in the Panther's Skin is often seen as Georgia's national epic. The poem was first printed in 1712, in Tbilisi.
In the poem, Rustaveli sings about humanistic ideals: feelings of love, friendship, courage and fortitude. The heroes of the poem are brave, philanthropic, and generous. The heroes of the poem are not restricted to Georgian nationality. The regions of Arabia, China, and India all figure in the poem.