Remarks on the Yezidi Religious Identity

This article focuses on the process of "identitarian" formation of the Yezidi minority, paying particular attention to the syncretistic character of the Yezidi religion as well as to the different statute of its (oral and written) sources. Among the examined aspects, the valuation of the two so-called “sacred books” (Kitab al-Jilwwa and Meshaf resh) is highly significant: although considered late literary products and even forgeries, it is possible to recognise within them the inclusion of elder, probably authentic material. This is the case, for instance, of the cosmogonical account described in the Black Book (Meshaf resh). The Author suggests the possibility to see, within its symbolism, a trace of the presence of the Genesis account of the origins (mainly Gen 1,2), reshaped in light of the Syriac translation of the Peshitta. Regarding the survey of several aspects of the Yezidi syncretism, it is then noteworthy to reaffirm the necessity of a comparison with the Judaeo-Aramaic folk material and with the Sufi tradition.