FREE_IT – AR Monuments for Diversity in Weimar
Title: MAUSOLEUM IN AR FOR HAFIS
Student: Sarah Fauzy
Location: Shakespeare Monument in Ilm Park
Description:
Sarah Fauzy: The park on the Ilm in Weimar is characterised by its natural beauty and impressive variety of plants. An important Shakespeare monument and a historic stone ruin lend the place a special atmosphere. Visitors can explore the park on gravel paths and between flowerbeds, which offers relaxation and cultural insights. Next to the monument is the Stone of Happiness erected by Goethe, another cultural highlight.
The mausoleum of Hafez can be seen in the AR project. Hafez, a 14th century Persian poet, is famous for his metaphorical poems about love, nature and mysticism. His work, the Divan, inspired western poets such as Goethe. Hafez's tomb in Shiraz is a cultural monument and place of pilgrimage, surrounded by a beautiful garden. His poetry is appreciated worldwide and makes him one of the greatest poets of all time.
The Park on the Ilm
S. F.: The Park an der Ilm in Weimar is an impressive example of landscape architecture and a place of great natural beauty. It is an idyllic, green refuge characterised by an impressive variety of trees and plants. It is a fascinating combination of nature and culture. Amidst this natural beauty is a significant monument dedicated to the great poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) [1]. The area surrounding Shakespeare's statue and ruins is lush with vegetation, giving the place a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. This monument, the only one of its kind in mainland Europe, stands on a small plateau and is surrounded by lush trees [2]. The monument to the great English poet William Shakespeare, which is erected on a solid stone plinth. The monument depicts Shakespeare in a pensive pose, emphasising his deep connection to literature and his immense importance to the world of drama. Behind the statue rises an impressive old stone ruin. This ruin, with its remaining window openings, lends the place a historical atmosphere and is reminiscent of times gone by [3]. The building is partially overgrown with lush greenery, reflecting the harmonious blend of nature and human history in the park. The ground is covered with dense, green grass that grows gently on the slopes of the ruins, making the whole area look like a soft, natural carpet. There are also various shrubs and bushes between the grassy areas, providing a varied and colourful variety of plants. The area surrounding the stature and the ruin is densely planted with various trees and shrubs, giving the square a peaceful and green oasis in the middle of the park. The ground is covered with fine gravel. It leads past the monument and the ruins and invites visitors to explore the site from different angles. The path is lined with small beds of seasonal flowers that add a splash of colour to the park, making the area around the statue appear accessible and well-maintained. Next to this cultural monument is the so-called Stone of Happiness by Goethe, another important cultural monument in the Park an der Ilm. This stone, which was erected by Goethe himself, is a symbol of the poet's deep connection to this place. This place offers not only a resting point for visitors, but also a deep insight into the cultural and literary history that makes Weimar so unique. Overall, the park offers not only an oasis of peace and relaxation, but also an insight into Weimar's rich cultural history.
Poet Hafiz
S. F.: And now to my chosen personality. Hafez, also known as Hafiz, was a Persian poet. Born around 1325 in Shiraz, in present-day Iran, and died around 1389, he is considered one of the most important and influential poets in Persian literature. His best-known work is the Divan, a collection of around 500 poems, mainly comprising ghazals. Hafez grew up in a turbulent time, characterised by political upheaval and social upheaval in the Persian Empire. From an early age, he showed a remarkable talent for writing poetry and the Quran, from which he received his honourific title "Hafez", meaning one who has memorised the Quran. He spent his early years in relative poverty, but his skills as a poet soon brought him renown and a position at the court of Shāh Sudasha [4]. Hafez's divan is a profound reflection on the human experience, often expressed in metaphorical language. His poems deal with themes such as love, nature, freedom, mysticism and the search for the divine [5]. The Ghaselen, a lyrical form of poetry by Hafez, are particularly known for their linguistic beauty and complex metaphors. A recurring theme in his poems is love, both in its worldly and spiritual forms. In many of his works, he sings of the beauty of nature, the pleasure of wine and the fleeting nature of life, while at the same time conveying deep spiritual insights. His poetry is an expression of the longing for a deeper truth and a higher consciousness. Hafez's influence reaches far beyond the borders of Persia [6]. His poems were and are appreciated and recited worldwide. In the West, his works became known in particular through the translations by Gertrude Bell and Hans Bethge, who played an important role in making Hafez's poetry accessible to a wider audience. His poetry has inspired numerous Western poets and thinkers, including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the most important German poets and thinkers who held him in high esteem and was greatly influenced by him. Goethe had a special relationship with Hafez and his work. This relationship is particularly reflected in Goethe's "West-Eastern Divan", one of his later works, which is strongly inspired by Persian poetry. Goethe was deeply impressed by the depth and beauty of Persian poetry. Goethe admired Hafez for his ability to bring complex emotional and spiritual themes into a harmonious and poetic form. He saw in Hafez a kindred spirit who expressed similar thoughts and feelings despite the temporal and cultural distance [7]. The relationship between Goethe and Hafez is therefore not only one of literary admiration, but also a profound spiritual connection. Goethe saw in Hafez a mirror of his own poetic soul and found in his works a source of inspiration and consolation. This intercultural and intertemporal connection is a fine example of how poetry and art can transcend borders and connect people across centuries [8].
The Tomb
S. F.: Hafez's tomb in Shiraz Iran, is now a place of pilgrimage for poets and lovers of his poetry and is an important cultural and historical monument. It attracts thousands of visitors every year who recite his poems and commemorate him. The monument is located in a beautiful garden that reflects the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere of Hafez's poetry. The garden is planted with a variety of flowers, shrubs and old trees that enrich the ambience of the place [9].
The tomb consists of a stone sarcophagus covered by an octagonal pavilion. This pavilion was designed in 1935 by the French-Iranian architect André Godard. The pavilion is in the traditional Persian style and consists of eight elegant columns that support the domed roof. The dome itself is decorated with beautiful mosaics that glow in bright colours and captivate the eye of the beholder [10]. Engraved on the stone sarcophagus are verses from Hafez's poems, expressing his philosophical and spiritual views. These inscriptions are a testament to his literary greatness and invite visitors to pause for a moment and reflect on the poet's profound words.
To summarise, Hafez is a poet of universal significance whose works have stood the test of time. His poems offer deep insights into the human soul and the spiritual journey that every human being undertakes. His ability to express complex feelings and thoughts in a beautiful, musical language makes him one of the greatest poets of all time.
[1] www.klassik-stiftung.de/park-an-der-ilm/
[2] www.weimar-lese.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/denkmaeler/shakespeare-denkmal/
[3] www.literaturland-thueringen.de/orte/shakespeare-denkmal-im-park-an-der-ilm/
[4] www.journal21.ch/artikel/hafis-der-groesste-lyriker-persischer-zunge
[5] www.irankultur.com/goethe-und-hafis/
[6] www.worldhistory.org/trans/de/1-18957/hafis-shiraz/
[7] www.worldhistory.org/trans/de/1-18957/hafis-shiraz/
[8] irantravelingcenter.com/de/st_aktivitat/grab-von-hafez-shiraz/