Page "Courtly love" Paragraph 17

According to G. E. von Grunebaum, there were several elements which developed in Arabic literature.

The notions of " love for love's sake " and " exaltation of the beloved lady " have been traced back to Arabic literature of the 9th and 10th centuries.

The notion of the " ennobling power " of love was developed in the early 11th century by the Persian psychologist and philosopher, Ibn Sina ( known as " Avicenna " in Europe ), in his treatise Risala fi ' l-Ishq ( Treatise on Love ).

The final element of courtly love, the concept of " love as desire never to be fulfilled ", was at times implicit in Arabic poetry, but was first developed into a doctrine in European literature, in which all four elements of courtly love were present.