RN 5/10/23: Muhammad, Goethe, Napoleon, & Suhrawardi on ancient symbolism
Napoleon & Goethe discuss Muhammad & Suhrawardi on the ancient "Art of Writing"
215 Years ago today, Goethe and Napoleon met to discuss Muhammad:
Goethe would later go on to announce Napoleon as “Mahomet der Welt” (Muhammad of the World) while Victor Hugo would refer to him as “Mahomet d’Occident” (Muhammad of the Occident). For his own part, Napoleon continued to admire and write about Muhammad’s legacy even in his final exile at St. Helena. John Tolan’s book is a superb account of the European fascination with the figure of Muhammad that continues until today.
Suhrawardi on the quarrel of the ancients and the moderns:
