From historical sources created during the poet’s lifetime, practically nothing is known about Shota Rustaveli. He was born around 1160. By 1190, he was the treasurer of Queen Tamar (Rustaveli’s signature was found on a document dated to this year). Probably, “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” was written around 1220 – the poem is not mentioned in the chronicle created after the death of Queen Tamar (“Histories and Praises of Crowned Monarchs”). On the other hand, it is unlikely that “The Knight” was written after the Mongol invasion of 1225. According to one version, the plot was created by Rustaveli to glorify Queen Tamar – this is evidenced by the image of Tinatin, one of the heroines of the poem. The poet died shortly after completing his great work. He probably spent his last years in a monastery cell – the Georgian metropolitan indicated that he saw the tomb and portrait of Rustaveli in the Church of the Holy Cross, built by Georgian kings. The church fresco with the name Shota Rustaveli still exists in this church to this day.
Shota Rustaveli
