Sanctuary of Shaykh ‘Adī

The sanctuary complex is a broadly rectangular structure oriented east-west along the axis of the Lalish valley (see the plan). It is defined on three sides by walls and, to the north, by a rocky ledge of the valley. The whole complex is built of roughly quarried stone, and parts of it are faced with finer cut stone; plaster surfacing has been added to the domes. The main entrance is located on the western side (two secondary entrances are found to the south and east). The entrance is approached by way of a spacious forecourt with a series of vaulted structures on its northern side, once serving as market stalls for pilgrims (see the historical photograph). The court is interspersed with small shrines, including a miniature conical dome.

The entrance on the east side of the forecourt is built of a marbled gray stone and is highly ornamented. Its engaged pillars support a semicircular arch with a tympanum and above this, a strongly projecting entablature (now made of concrete). The lunette-shaped tympanum bears two Arabic inscriptions set within oval borders, giving the names of the people who restored the entrance (Inscriptions 1 & 2); they are accompanied by birds and floral motifs. The masonry on either side of the door bears some blocks carved with medallions, probably reused from other structures. There are also inscriptions on the wall near the door (Inscriptions 3 & 4).

After passing through a corridor, one enters a paved inner courtyard (see the panorama). In the northwest, adjacent to the entryway, there is a modern enclosure that serves as a meeting place. To the east of this is a freestanding niche for oil lamps, with an Arabic inscription carved on its reverse (Inscription 5). Additional small niches and inscriptions, as well as small carvings, are found around the courtyard; several mulberry trees grow up through the pavement. Rooms serving varied religious functions line the north and south sides of the courtyard. 

In the northeast corner of the inner courtyard, the gate called Derîyê Kapî leads to the innermost part of the sanctuary building. The door is framed by engaged pilasters that resemble Corinthian columns, bearing capitals with acanthus leaves in low relief. Above this is a round arch with projecting palmettes. A tympanum over the segmentally arched portal is set back from this outer frame. The gate's elaborate decorative program includes symmetrical peacocks—an important symbol of the Yezidi faith—and sunbursts flanking an Arabic inscription (Inscription 6). It seems that this gate was reconstructed more than once; George Percy Badger visited the site in mid-19^th century and made a drawing of a drawing different from the present one,1 while in 1911 Walter Bachmann drew yet another one (also photographed by Gertrude Bell2 and William Wigram). On the other hand, R. H. W. Empson’s 1928 description matches the present door, suggesting that it was built sometime between 1911–1928.3 The Arabic inscription of the previous door has not survived, but it was read and translated by the Russian traveler Ilya Berezin, who visited the site in 1843 (Inscription 7).4

Several symbols are depicted on the stone blocks around the Derîyê Kapî portal. Directly to its left, there is a large vertical snake rendered in relief and painted in black, and below this is another snake (this one rendered horizontally). Unlike the snakes—which were carved in relation to the gate—the rest of the blocks bearing symbols appear to have been reused from earlier structures. Several Arabic inscriptions, no longer surviving, were carved on this facade; they were mentioned by both Ilya Berezin and George Percy Badger (Inscriptions 8 & 9).5 In addition, two modern inscriptions (dating to 2007 and 2012) are placed on the western side of the inner courtyard across from the sanctuary’s gate (Inscription 10; Inscription 11). 

The assembly hall, a rectangular nave oriented east—west, lies at the center of the complex. Seven square piers—covered with colorful cloths related to religious rituals—divide the hall into two halves. A raised platform on the west side supports the sarcophagus of Shaykh ‘Adī bin Barakat (nephew of Shaykh ‘Adī). To the northeast of the assembly hall is the mausoleum of Shaykh Hasan (see the panorama). A door leads from the square room of this mausoleum to a staircase down to the Zemzem Spring—a natural feature that is extremely sacred to the Yezidis. Another door, located in the room’s west wall, opens to the mausoleum of Shaykh ‘Adī, which lies directly over the Zemzem Spring and is also accessible from the assembly hall (see the panorama). 

West of the mausoleum of Shaykh ‘Adī is a series of three barrel vaulted rooms in which is stored oil pressed from the Lalish olive groves, used for the complex’s lamps (see the panorama of the Room of Hasin Dina; see the panorama of the room of Heft Sivaran Mala Adiya). The westernmost of these rooms houses the sarcophagus of Shaykh Abū Bekir—reportedly a brother of Shayhk ‘Adī—wrapped in black cloth (see the panorama). The mausolea of Shaykh ‘Adī and of Shaykh Hasan are covered with conical domes set close to one another; a third, smaller dome tops the room of Hasin Dina. The southeastern portion of the sanctuary, with a terrace and several rooms of varied functions, serves the more practical needs of pilgrims, such as accommodations and food preparation.

• 1. Badger 1852 (1), fig. between pp. 106–107.
• 2. Gertrude Bell Archive, Album M, no. 45 (http://gertrudebell.ncl.ac.uk/photo_details.php?photo_id=3348).
• 3. Empson 1928, 122. Cf. Açikyildiz 2009, n. 73.
• 4. Berezin 1951 [1854], 69.
• 5. Berezin 1951 [1854], 69; Badger 1852 (1), 106.