The Story of King Rostevan, The King of Arabs

## Chapter Chronology

**The Story of King Rostevan, The King of Arabs** (Georgian: **ამბავი როსტევან არაბთა მეფისა**) is the first chapter of *The Knight in the Panther's Skin*. Consisting of 41 stanzas, the chapter focuses on the enthroning ceremony of Tinatin, the daughter and only child of Rostevan, the king of Arabia. The chapter also introduces a young and loyal general Avtandil, the commander-in-chief's son, and reveals his feelings towards Tinatin.

## Plot

Arabia was ruled by a thriving, majestic, generous, and modest king named Rostevan. He had countless vassals and was himself a fearless warrior and peerless speaker. The king had only one child, a daughter named Tinatin.

One day, King Rostevan summoned his viziers and told them that he had decided to crown his daughter as he was growing too old. The viziers replied that they were still loyal to him, but they fully supported and respected his decision.

Avtandil, a young and handsome general whose father was a commander-in-chief, was secretly in love with Tinatin. Seeing her filled his heart with joy, and being away from her saddened him. When Avtandil heard about Tinatin's crowning, he was overjoyed, as he would now be able to see her more frequently.

King Rostevan publicly announced the enthroning of his daughter and invited everyone to attend the ceremony. All the Arabs arrived, including Avtandil and Sograt, the king's adviser, who was especially mesmerized. Tinatin was led to the throne by King Rostevan, who seated her, placed the crown on her head, gave her the scepter, and clothed her in a royal robe. Everyone, including King Rostevan, kneeled before her and blessed and praised her. The festivities began.

Tinatin began to cry, as she feared that she was not worthy of sitting on her father's throne. King Rostevan comforted her and reassured her. He told her that as the new king of Arabia, she must be modest and wise, treat everyone equally, and above all, be generous. He said that generosity would make even the most disloyal people show loyalty. Tinatin listened studiously to her father's counsel.

King Rostevan held a feast in celebration of his daughter's coronation. People ate, drank, sang, and danced. Tinatin summoned her tutor, who had raised her, and ordered her to bring all of the treasure that she owned. She also ordered the stable master to bring all of her horses. When they had brought everything, Tinatin gave it all away to the people.

The next day, King Rostevan continued the celebration and feast, and invited many guests. Avtandil was sitting at the head of the table, with Sograt sitting next to him. King Rostevan became visibly sad, and the guests began to wonder why. Avtandil and Sograt decided to cheer him up.

They filled their glasses with wine, slowly approached the king, and kneeled before him. Sograt jokingly said that the king must be sad because his daughter had given away all of her treasure. King Rostevan was astonished by this bold joke, but he laughed it off. The king revealed that he was saddened because he had never had a son to whom he could teach archery and other manly arts. He said that Avtandil came the closest, as he had raised him.

King Rostevan noticed that Avtandil was smirking, and asked him the reason. Avtandil, after making the king promise that he would not punish him for what he was about to say, replied that the king should not be boasting of his archery skills and challenged him to a hunting contest. The king cheered up. They even set the terms of the wager: the loser would have to walk around with a bare head for three days.

The king said that he would take twelve good riders and another twelve men to carry arrows, while Avtandil should take his pupil Shermadin, who was equal to those twenty-four men. The men would count the throws and hits. After that, King Rostevan ordered the huntsmen to gather a herd of wild animals in the field, and invited the soldiers to witness the hunting in the morning. The feast ended.

## Characters

* Rostevan
* Tinatin
* Avtandil
* King's Viziers
* Sograt
* Avtandil's Father (mentioned)
* Shermadin (mentioned)

## Memorable Quotes

>
> Every rose will fade and wither, no matter though it once was fair.
>
> The dry rose falls within the garden, a new rose arises there.
>
>
>
> — Rostevan, in Stanza 36: b-c

>
> Of what worth is a light when it's becoming darkness by degree?
>
>
>
> — Rostevan, in Stanza 37: c

>
> What kind of star dares offer challenge even to a waning moon?
>
>
>
> — Viziers, in Stanza 38: c

>
> Lion's whelps are equally lions, though female or male they be.
>
>
>
> — Viziers, in Stanza 40: d

>
> Love alone should be blamed - love with the power to break a man's heart.
>
>
>
> — Rustaveli, Stanza 42: d

>
> The sun shines alike on roses and dung, on everything we see.
>
> You, alike to the greatest and the lowly, merciful should be.
>
> The one, who's getting bound, binds himself; the generous bind the free.
>
> The sea's waters flow in and flow out: be generous like the sea.
>
>
> Bounteousness, like Eden's poplars, is planted in kings to use.
>
> The generous are obeyed even by those with treacherous views.
>
> Whenever food and drink are offered you, accept them - don't refuse.
>
> What you give to others, you will keep; whatever you don't - you'll lose.
>
>
>
> — Rostevan, in Stanzas 50-51

## Gallery

Zichy (1881)Toidze (1937)Kobuladze (1935-1937)

"Prologue"

1. "**The Story of King Rostevan, The King of Arabs**"
2. "King Rostevan and Avtandil Go Hunting"
3. "The King of the Arabs Sees the Knight in the Panther Skin"
4. "Tinatin Sends Avtandil to Look for the Knight"
5. "Avtandil's Letter to His Vassals"
6. "Avtandil Sets Forth in Quest of the Knight"
7. "Avtandil Tells His Story to Asmat"
8. "The Meeting of Tariel and Avtandil"
9. "Tariel Tells His Story to Avtandil"
10. "The Story of Tariel's Falling in Love"
11. "First Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Her Beloved"
12. "First Letter Written by Tariel to His Beloved"
13. "Tariel Writes a Letter and Sends a Man to the Khatavians"
14. "Nestan-Darejan Summons Tariel"
15. "The Letter by the King of the Khatavians to Tariel"
16. "Tariel's Tryst with Nestan-Darejan"
17. "Tariel's Departure for Khataeti and Great War"
18. "Tariel's Letter to the Indian King and His Triumphant Return"
19. "The Letter of Nestan-Darejan Written to Her Beloved"
20. "Tariel Laments and then Faints"
21. "Tariel's Letter in Answer to His Beloved"
22. "The Council Concerning Nestan-Darejan's Marriage"
23. "Tariel and Nestan-Darejan Discuss Her Marriage"
24. "The Arrival of the Bridegroom and His Slaying by Tariel"
25. "Tariel Hears Tidings of the Disappearance of Nestan-Darejan"
26. "Nuradin-Phridon's Story"
27. "Tariel's Aid to Phridon"
28. "Phridon Tells Tariel Tidings of Nestan-Darejan"
29. "The Story of Avtandil's Return to Arabia"
30. "Avtandil's Request to the King and the Vizier's Entreaty"
31. "Avtandil's Discourse with Shermadin"
32. "The Testament of Avtandil for King Rostevan Before He Secretly Left"
33. "Avtandil's Prayer"
34. "King Rostevan Hears of Avtandil's Secret Flight"
35. "Avtandil's Second Departure to Meet Tariel"
36. "Avtandil Finds Tariel"
37. "Tariel Tells How He Killed a Panther and a Lion"
38. "Tariel and Avtandil Return to the Cave and See Asmat"
39. "Avtandil Goes to See Phridon"
40. "Avtandil Comes to Phridon's After He Parted from Tariel"
41. "Avtandil Goes to Seek Nestan-Darejan and Meets a Caravan"
42. "The Story of Avtandil's Arrival in Gulansharo"
43. "Patman Becomes Enamoured of Avtandil"
44. "Patman's Letter of Love to Avtandil"
45. "Avtandil's Letter in Response to Patman"
46. "Patman Tells Avtandil the Story of Nestan-Darejan"
47. "The Story of the Capture of Nestan-Darejan by the Kajis"
48. "The Letter Written by Patman to Nestan-Darejan"
49. "The Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Patman"
50. "The Letter Written by Nestan-Darejan to Her Beloved"
51. "Avtandil's Letter to Phridon"
52. "Avtandil's Departure from Gulansharo and Meeting with Tariel"
53. "Tariel and Avtandil Go to Phridon"
54. "Phridon's Counsel"
55. "Avtandil's Counsel"
56. "Tariel's Counsel"
57. "Tariel's Visit to the King of the Seas"
58. "The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan Held by Phridon"
59. "The Three Knights Go to the Cave and Then to Arabia"
60. "The Wedding of Avtandil and Tinatin by the King of the Arabs"
61. "Tariel Learns of the Death of the King of India"
62. "Tariel's Arrival in India and the Defeat of the Khatavians"
63. "The Wedding of Tariel and Nestan-Darejan"

"Epilogue"