ABSTRACT
Medieval Arab culture is a culture of elites, and is hence class-based. It is therefore not surprising that organisation of the literary milieu should be selective. "It is said," writes Ibn Rashiq "that Abu Tammam and al-Bu? turi cast into the shade five hundred of their contemporaries, all of them excellent". On the contrary, the reign of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil marked a net increase in poetic activity. Samarra became a place of fascinating festivities, with an arena for contests and generous prizes awarded by the sovereign. Marwan aimed cruel satires against the Shii'ites, sure that this was the way to please al-Mutawakkil but, less cautious than al-Bu?turi, he did not foresee that fate would make him pay for his insolence. Al-Mutawakkil took pleasure in his pranks but employed him as a straightforward clown: he had him catapulted into a pool of water in his palace and sent his retainers to fish him out with nets.
