This publication examines art, the human sciences, science, philosophy, mysticism, language and literature. For this task, UNESCO has chosen scholars and experts from all over the world who belong to widely divergent cultural and religious backgrounds.--Publisher's description.

The central feature of this book is an innovative critical approach, which understands medieval Hebrew poetry not only by revealing its ties with Arabic poetry but also by determining the specific characteristics by which it stubbornly distinguished itself from Arabic poetry.

The central feature of this book is an innovative critical approach, which understands medieval Hebrew poetry not only by revealing its ties with Arabic poetry but also by determining the specific characteristics by which it stubbornly distinguished itself from Arabic poetry.

Schutz und Andacht im Islam befasst sich mit handschriftlichen Dokumenten in Rollenform, die zwischen dem 14. und 19. Jh. entstanden sind. Die vorgestellten Belegstücke stammen aus unterschiedlichen geographischen Kontexten: a. Städtedreieck Tabriz-Konya-Bagdad; b. persischer Kulturraum; c. Osmanisches Reich. Diese Rollen waren bei Angehörigen von Männerbünden (Sufi-Orden, Futuwwa- und Aḫī-Gruppierungen, Gilden) beliebt. Die Studie untersucht das auf diesen Dokumenten verwendete textliche und ge¬stalterische Vokabular. Neben Passagen aus dem Koran (auch vollständige Abschriften) lassen sich oft Gebete und weitere Texte frommen Inhalts feststellen. Gelegentlich finden sich Hinweise, dass die Dokumente aus heterodoxen Umfeldern stammen. Die Studie unterstreicht ausserdem den hohen kunsthistorischen Wert der vorgestellten Belegstücke, die oft für Angehörige von gesellschaftlichen Eliten angefertigt worden sind. Devotion and Protection in Islam deals with hand-written documents in the scroll format dating from the 14th–19th centuries. These documents can be attributed to various geographic contexts: a. the triangle between the cities of Tabriz, Konya and Baghdad; b. the Persianate world; c. the Ottoman Empire. These scrolls were appreciated by members of different associations (Männerbünde; e.g. Sufi orders, Futuwwa and Aḫī groups). This study analyses the textual and ornamental vocabulary applied on the scrolls. The copied texts mostly comprise passages from the Quran and prayers. Certain features suggest that such scrolls were often produced in heterodox environments. Additionally, this study underscores the high art-historical value of these documents, particularly appreciated by members of the ruling elite.

Same-Sex Love in India presents a stunning array of writings on same-sex love from over 2000 years of Indian literature. Translated from more than a dozen languages and drawn from Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and modern fictional traditions, these writings testify to the presence of same-sex love in various forms since ancient times, without overt persecution. This collection defies both stereotypes of Indian culture and Foucault's definition of homosexuality as a nineteenth-century invention, uncovering instead complex discourses of Indian homosexuality, rich metaphorical traditions to represent it, and the use of names and terms as early as medieval times to distinguish same-sex from cross-sex love. An eminent group of scholars have translated these writings for the first time or have re-translated well-known texts to correctly make evident previously underplayed homoerotic content. Selections range from religious books, legal and erotic treatises, story cycles, medieval histories and biographies, modern novels, short stories, letters, memoirs, plays and poems. From the Rigveda to Vikram Seth, this anthology will become a staple in courses on gender and queer studies, Asian studies, and world literature.

A cumulative list of works represented by Library of Congress printed cards.