The Fountain of Life

Solomon ben Judah ibn Gabirol, also known as Avicebron, was a Spanish poet and philosopher. He is thought to have been born in Malaga and later moved to Zaragoza (Saragossa). Orphaned at an early age, he wrote a number of elegies on the death of his parents. He devoted his life to philosophy and poetry and was dependent on the support of patrons. His most generous protector was Jekuthiel ben Isaac ibn Hassan. Upon Jekuthiel's death, Gabirol composed a 200-verse elegy, which is considered to be one of the finest examples of secular medieval Jewish poetry. He was one of the earliest poets to use Arabic meter. All of his poems, regardless of length, are rhymed and end with the same syllable. He is believed to have died in Valencia.

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