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.
