The Qiyan in the early Abbasid period

Thesis

The thesis deals with the legal status of the qiy̅an as slaves in Islam; describes their nationalities, education and training as singers, instrumentalists and versifiers. It considers their place in the cultural life of the host society. A substantial part of their poetry with particular attention to some of the leading figures is reproduced in translation. A review of that poetry is included, showing the bulk of it to consist of clever epigrams exchanged in public or semi-public maj̅alis, bearing the hallmark of virtuosity and social jousting or party games. Another theme is that the introduction of the qiy̅an into the Abbasid cultural life led to the development of elegiac-erotic poetry. A parallel review of the musical scene, with special reference to some leading exponents, shows the influence of the qiy̅an in the development of new “popular”, unconventional styles of singing. The institution of the qiy̅an in all its artistic manifestations is viewed as essentially a business catering for men in pursuit of pleasure: caliphs, aristocrats and, most commonly, the class of cultured well-to-do chancery scribes. The bulk of the poetry which the established men poets composed in praise of the qiy̅an is seen as publicity material, and substantially produced to commission. The effect of the qiy̅an on the free-born women of their age, as well as historically, is considered; and some comparison is drawn between them as poets and singers. By way of further comparison the geisha and the hetaira of Ancient Greece are alluded to. A chapter is devoted to the decline and fall of the qiy̅an institution in the East and its partial transfer to Arab Spain.

Authors: Caswell, FM

• Publication date: 2006
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-dqkym2ed5
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: classical arabic; oriental; slavery; middle eastern
• Subjects: Middle Eastern art; Middle Eastern Languages