Lalish

Lalish (Ezidkhan)
village

Conical roofs characteristic of Yazidi sites mark the tomb of Şêx Adî in Lalish
Coordinates: 36°46′17.03″N 43°18′12.04″E / 36.7713972°N 43.3033444°E / 36.7713972; 43.3033444Coordinates: 36°46′17.03″N 43°18′12.04″E / 36.7713972°N 43.3033444°E / 36.7713972; 43.3033444
Country  Iraq
District Shekhan District
Founded circa 2000 BCE

Lalish (Kurdish: Laliş‎, also called Lalişa Nûranî) is a small mountain valley village situated in the Shekhan District of Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq, near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan. It contains the holiest temple in the Yezidi faith. The temple belongs to ancient times wherein many archaeologists and historians agree that the temple was a part of Sumerian and other ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, and from as early as the 25th century BC through to the 7th century AD the entire region of northern Iraq was an integral part of Assyria.[1] Later it became the location of the tomb of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, who is a central figure of the Yazidi faith.[2]

The village is above the town of Shekhan, which had the second largest population of Yazidi prior to the persecution of Yazidis by ISIL.[3] The village is about thirty-six miles northeast of Mosul.[4]

At least once in their lifetime, Yazidis are expected to make a six-day pilgrimage to Lalish to visit the tomb of Şêx Adî and other sacred places.[2] These other sacred places are shrines dedicated to other holy beings. There are two sacred springs called Zamzam, which is in a cave below Sheikh Adi's sanctuary, and Kāniyā. Lalish is also the location of pirrā selāt (Ṣerāṭ Bridge) and a mountain called Mt. ʿArafāt which has sites significant in other faiths. Yazidis living in the region are also expected to make a yearly pilgrimage to attend the autumn seven-day Feast of the Assembly,[4] which is celebrated from 23 Aylūl to 1 Tašrīn I.

History

Lalish village dates back about 4000 years.[1]

In the early 12th century, Adi ibn Mosāfer moved to Lalish. Adi died in 1162 and was buried. During a major battle against the Yazidi in 1414, the tomb of Adi was razed.[4]

Beginning on 10 August 2014, Yazidi refugees have been fleeing to the village from Sinjar after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant placed that city under siege.[2][1] Many fleeing Sinjar travelled through Syria to reach Lalish and Shekhan.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Spencer, Richard (August 13, 2014). "Iraq dispatch: terrified Yazidi people seek refuge inside holy temple". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Soguel, Dominique (August 12, 2014). "World Middle East A sanctuary for Iraqi Yazidis – and a plea for Obama's intervention". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Iraq crisis: the last stand of the Yazidis against Islamic State". The Telegraph. August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Allison, Christine (July 20, 2004). "YAZIDIS i. GENERAL". Encyclopædia Iranica (online ed.). New York. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
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