Caption: Earth Could Not Answer Nor the Seas Mourn: "An old man with a long white beard and Persian headdress reads by the light of a large candle."

Caption quote, slightly adapted, from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 5th edition, Verse XXXIII by Omar Khayyam (1048--1123) and Edward FitzGerald (1809--1883).

An avatar for Omar Khayyam (1048--1123): Persian, mathematician, astronomer, by tradition poet:

Up from Earth's Centre through the Seventh Gate
rose, and on the Throne of Saturn sate;
      And many a Knot unravel'd by the Road;
But not the Master-knot of Human Fate.

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 5th edition, Verse XXXI by Omar Khayyam (1048--1123) and Edward FitzGerald (1809--1883).

And when Thyself with shining Foot shall pass
Among the Guests Star-scatter'd on the Grass,
      And in thy joyous Errand reach the Spot
Where I made one---turn down an empty Glass!

---Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, 1st edition, Verse 75 by Omar Khayyam (1048--1123) and Edward FitzGerald (1809--1883).

Credit/Permission: Adelaide Hanscom (1875--1931), artist for Rubaiyat of of Omar Khayyam (1905, 1912) by Omar Khayyam (1048--1123) and Edward FitzGerald (1809--1883), 1905 (uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by User:Liftarn, 2006) / Public domain.
Image link: Wikimedia Commons: File:033-Earth-could-not-answer-nor-the-Seas-that-mourn-q75-829x1159.jpg.
Local file: local link: omar_reading.html.
File: Omar Khayyam file: omar_reading.html.