Arabian Literature

Its beginnings are hidden in obscurity, and the antiquity of verses said to come from periods before the Christian era is not accepted. But in the 5th cen tury poetry flourished. The metrical systems were based upon quantity, as in Greek and Latin, and 16 different varieties are known to have been in common use. Rhyme came in gradu allv. The annual festival of Okad gave the Arab poet his opportunity to compete for prizes and for fame. Heroic poems and elegies of great beauty were produced, the finest of which were hung up for the perusal of the public in some place such as the Kaaba at Mecca, where they would reach the eyes of the multitude. Thus 7 of especial merit, the Múallakat , or "Suspended," were marked for especial honor.