Ziryab facts for kids

Abu l-Hasan 'Ali Ibn Nafi, better known as Ziryab (born around 789, died around 857), was a super talented person from the medieval Islamic period. He was a singer, played the oud (a stringed instrument like a lute), wrote music, wrote poems, and was a teacher. He lived and worked in places like Iraq, North Africa, and Al-Andalus (which is now part of Spain).

Ziryab was also known as a polymath, which means he was an expert in many different subjects. He knew a lot about astronomy (stars and planets), geography (maps and places), meteorology (weather), plants, cosmetics (beauty products), culinary art (cooking), and fashion. His nickname "Ziryab" comes from a Persian word for a type of bird called a jay-bird. In Spanish, he was called "Mirlo," meaning blackbird.

He became famous at the court of the Umayyad rulers in Córdoba, Andalusia. Before that, he gained fame in Baghdad, Iraq, where he was born. He was a student of a great Persian musician named Ibrahim al-Mawsili.

Ziryab was a very skilled student of Ibrahim al-Mawsili in Baghdad. He left Baghdad during the time of the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun. He then moved to Córdoba, Andalusia, where he became a musician for the ruler Abd ar-Rahman II of the Umayyad dynasty.

Who Was Ziryab?

Ziryab's career really took off in Al-Andalus. He was born around 790. His background is debated, with some saying he was Persian, Kurdish, or African. People called him "Blackbird" because of his very clear voice and his kind personality.

Ziryab's Early Life and Journey

As Islamic armies expanded, their music and culture spread too. This reached as far as western China and the Iberian Peninsula (where Spain and Portugal are today). After conquering most of Hispania in the 8th century, they renamed it Al-Andalus.

The main cities in Iberia soon became famous for music in the Islamic world. Many musicians and artists came to Iberia during the 8th and 9th centuries. Ziryab was considered the best of them all.

Ziryab was probably born in Baghdad and started learning music when he was young. Baghdad was a very important music center back then. All sources agree that the talented musician Ibrahim al-Mawsili was Ziryab's teacher.

There are different stories about how Ziryab ended up in al-Andalus. One story says his teacher became jealous of his amazing talent. Ziryab performed for the caliph Harun al-Rashid, and his teacher told him to leave Baghdad. Other sources suggest he left after the death of Harun's son, al-Amin, in 813.

Ziryab left Baghdad after 813. He first traveled to Syria and then to Ifriqiya (which is now Tunisia). There, he lived at the court of Ziyadat Allah. Ziryab had a disagreement with Ziyadat Allah. But then, the Umayyad prince, Al-Hakam I, invited him to Al-Andalus.

When Ziryab arrived in 822, Prince Al-Hakam I had died. However, the prince's son, Abd ar-Rahman II, renewed the invitation. Ziryab settled in Córdoba, Andalusia. He received a large monthly salary of 200 gold coins.

He quickly became even more famous as an expert in food, fashion, singing, and music at the court. He set new high standards in all these areas. Ziryab became a very important cultural figure. He was a close friend of the prince and started a music school. This school trained singers and musicians and influenced music for many years.

One historian, al-Maqqari, said that "There never was, either before or after him (Ziryab), a man of his profession who was more generally beloved and admired."

Ziryab's Music Innovations

Ziryab is known for making the Oud (a stringed instrument) even better. He added a fifth pair of strings to it. He also used an eagle's beak or a quill instead of a wooden pick to play the instrument.

Ziryab even dyed the four strings of the oud different colors. Each color symbolized one of the four "humors" (ideas about the body from ancient times). The fifth string represented the soul. He created a unique and popular way of performing music. He also wrote songs that were played in Iberia for many generations.

He had a huge impact on Spanish music. He is seen as the founder of the Andalusian classical music traditions in North Africa. Ziryab's musical style from Baghdad became very popular in the court of Abd al-Rahman II. Ziryab also became an example of how a courtier (someone who works at a royal court) should behave. He was knowledgeable in many subjects like astronomy, history, and geography.

Abd al-Rahman II was a big supporter of the arts, and Ziryab was given a lot of freedom. He started one of the first music schools in Córdoba, Andalusia. This school taught both male and female students, who were very popular among the wealthy people of the time.

Ziryab had special ways to test his students. For example, if a student didn't have a strong voice, he would put small pieces of wood in their jaw. This would force them to keep their mouth open while singing. He would also tie a sash tightly around their waist to make them breathe in a certain way. He tested new students by having them sing a note as loudly and as long as they could. This showed him if they had good lung capacity.

Ziryab's Family

Ziryab had eight sons and two daughters. Five of his sons and both daughters became important musicians. These children continued their father's music school. The female slave singers he trained also helped keep his music alive for the next generation.

Fashion and Hygiene Trends

Ziryab started new fashion trends. He changed his clothes based on the weather and the season. He even suggested different outfits for mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Some historians say that Ziryab influenced the winter and summer clothing styles and the fancy clothes found in Morocco today.

He also created a new type of deodorant to help with bad smells. He encouraged people to take baths in the morning and evening. He stressed the importance of staying clean. Ziryab is also thought to have invented an early toothpaste. He made it popular throughout Al-Andalus. We don't know the exact ingredients of this toothpaste, but people said it worked well and tasted good.

Before Ziryab arrived, most people in the court of Córdoba wore their long hair parted in the middle. It hung loose down to their shoulders, for both men and women. Ziryab introduced new, shorter hairstyles. He had his hair cut with bangs down to his eyebrows and straight across his forehead. These new styles left the neck, ears, and eyebrows free.

He made shaving popular among men and set new haircut trends. Royalty used to wash their hair with rose water. But Ziryab introduced using salt and fragrant oils to make hair healthier. Some people say he opened beauty salons for wealthy women in Córdoba, but early records don't fully support this.

Ziryab was a "major trendsetter of his time." He created new trends in fashion, hairstyles, and hygiene. His students then spread these trends across Europe and North Africa.

Ziryab's Culinary Impact

Ziryab was also a leader in cooking and food tastes. He "revolutionized the local cuisine" by bringing in new fruits and vegetables, like asparagus. He also introduced the idea of a three-course meal, served on leather tablecloths. He insisted that meals should have three separate parts: soup, the main course, and then dessert.

He also introduced the use of crystal glasses for drinks. These were much better than metal cups. Before his time, food was simply served on platters on bare tables, similar to how the Romans ate. He is also said to have made wine drinking more popular.

Ziryab's Lasting Legacy

Monument of Ziryab represented as a blackbird in Córdoba, Spain

Ziryab completely changed the court in Córdoba, Andalusia. He made it the most stylish place of its time. Whether he was introducing new clothes, styles, foods, hygiene products, or music, Ziryab changed the culture of Al-Andalus forever.

His contributions to music alone were huge. He laid the early foundation for classic Spanish music. Ziryab was more than just a musician or a fashion expert. He became a revolutionary cultural figure in 8th and 9th century Iberian Peninsula.

Ziryab's students took the trends and inventions he started to North Africa and Europe, spreading his influence far and wide.

See also

In Spanish: Ziryab para niños