Heirs to forgotten kingdoms : journeys into the disappearing religions of the Middle East / Gerard Russell.

Abstract: Despite its reputation for religious intolerance, the Middle East has long sheltered many distinctive and strange faiths: one regards the Greek prophets as incarnations of God, another reveres Lucifer in the form of a peacock, and yet another believes that their followers are reincarnated beings who have existed in various forms for thousands of years. These religions represent the last vestiges of the magnificent civilizations in ancient history: Persia, Babylon, Egypt in the time of the Pharaohs. Their followers have learned how to survive foreign attacks and the perils of assimilation. But today, with the Middle East in turmoil, they face greater challenges than ever before.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Foreword by Rory Stewart—Timeline—Map of the forgotten kingdoms—Introduction—1. Mandaeans—2. Yazidis—3. Zoroastrians—4. Druze—5. Samaritans—6. Copts—7. Kalasha—8. Epilogue : Detroit—Sources and further readings—Index.

English