Yezidis, The

Yezidism is a fascinating part of the rich cultural mosaic of the Middle East. The Yezidi faith emerged for the first time in the twelfth century in the Kurdish mountains of northern Iraq. The religion, which has become notorious for its associations with 'devil worship', is in fact an intricate syncretic system of belief, incorporating elements from proto-Indo-European religions, early Iranian faiths like Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, Sufism and regional paganism like Mithraism. Birgul Acikyildiz here offers a comprehensive appraisal of Yezidi religion, society and culture. Written without presupposing any prior knowledge about Yezidism, and in an accessible and readable style, her book examines Yezidis not only from a religious point of view but as a historical and social phenomenon. She throws light on the origins of Yezidism, and charts its development and changing fortunes - from its beginnings to the present- as part of the general history of the Kurds. Her book is the first to place Yezidism in its complete geographical setting in Northern Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Transcaucasia.
The author describes the Yezidi belief system (which considers Tawusi Melek - the 'Peacock Angel' - to be ruler of the earth) and its religious practices and observances, analysing the most important facets of Yezidi religious art and architecture (including funerary monuments and zoomorphic tombstones) and their relationship to their neighbours throughout the Middle East. Acikyildiz also explores the often misunderstood connections between Yezidism and the Satan/Sheitan of Christian and Muslim tradition. Richly illustrated, with accompanying maps, photographs and illustrations, this pioneering book will have strong appeal to all those with an interest in the culture of the Kurds, as well as the wider region.

Autorentext
A specialist in medieval Islamic and Ottoman art and architecture, and an expert on Yezidi religion and culture, Birgul Acikyildiz is Professor of the History of Art at Mardin Artuklu University. Before taking this post she was Research Fellow in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford, and taught in the Department of Islamic Art and Archaeology of the University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne.

Inhalt
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter I: Origins, History and Development
Yezidis in Mesopotamia and Anatolia
Yezidis in Syria
Yezidis in Transcaucasia
II: Religious Belief System
1. God, Angels and the Trinity
God (Xwedê)
Angels
The Peacock Angel (Tawûsî Melek)
Sultan Êzi
Sheikh 'Ad?
2. Yezidi Mythology
Creation of Cosmos and Universe
Creation of Human Being
The Flood
3. Holy Books
4. Religious Hierarchy
Chapter III: Religious Practices, Observances and Rituals
Haircut, Baptism, Circumcision, Brother of the Hereafter, Marriage, Death
Prayer
Fast
Pilgrimage
Festivals and Ceremonies
Taboos
Chapter IV: Material Culture
Homeland, Landscape, Sacred Places
Places of Worship
The Sanctuary
Mausoleums
Shrines
The Baptistery
Caves
Tombstones
Conclusion
Appendixes
Glossary
Notes
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX

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