Shirali Muslimov

Shirali Muslimov (also Mislimov) (Azerbaijani: Şirəli Müslümov, Ширəли Mүcлүмов, شيرالي ميسليموف, pronounced [ʃiræˈli mysˈlymov]) (March 19, 1805? – September 2, 1973) was a Talysh shepherd from the village of Barzavu in the Lerik region of Azerbaijan, a mountainous area near the Iranian border. He was claiming to be the oldest person who ever lived when he died on September 2 (or 4), 1973 at the alleged age of 168. This is forty-six years older than French woman Jeanne Calment, who has had the longest confirmed lifespan in history. At the purported age of 136 he married and had a daughter.

The only evidence in favor of Muslimov's age claim is an official passport that listed his birthdate as 1805. Muslimov had no known birth certificate, however, and as such, many refuse to accept his claim.

The story was taken up by National Geographic Magazine, which later recanted on the claim. In the 1970s many Westerners were made aware of these extreme claims of longevity in Azerbaijan and elsewhere in the Caucasus region when a U.S. Danone yogurt commercial invoked some of these people to suggest that the secret of their long lives lay in the frequent consumption of yogurt. In spite of possible exaggerations, the region has been noted by experts as a place where centenarians are unusually common, and Muslimov remains a treasured symbol of the celebration of long living in Azerbaijan.

See also

• Longevity myths

External links

• A lesson in longevity
• Sept. 17, 1973 TIME Magazine obituary (bottom of page)
• "Azerbaijan's Legendary Centenarian", a 1996 article detailing the story behind Muslimov's claims of incredible longevity
• Centenarians in Azerbaijan