Decapitation and Resurrection in Nasir Khusraw and the Yemen Messiah: An Intertextual Suggestion

David Malkiel

doi:10.1163/18750214-bja10053

Decapitation and Resurrection in Nasir Khusraw and the Yemen Messiah: An Intertextual Suggestion

David Malkiel

Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Abstract: This article explores the relationship between two tales from the Arabian peninsula in the high middle ages, in both of which the protagonist declares that he will prove his identity by coming back to life after being decapitated. One is the tale of Bu-Saʿid of Lahsa in Nasir Khusraw’s Book of Travels (11th cent.), and the other is the tale of the Yemen messiah as told by Maimonides.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-5
Number of pages	5
Journal	Zutot
Volume	23
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1163/18750214-bja10053
State	Published - Mar 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright David Malkiel, 2025. Published with license by Koninklijke Brill BV. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

Keywords

Khusraw
Maimonides
messiah

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10.1163/18750214-bja10053

Cite this

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abstract = "Abstract: This article explores the relationship between two tales from the Arabian peninsula in the high middle ages, in both of which the protagonist declares that he will prove his identity by coming back to life after being decapitated. One is the tale of Bu-Saʿid of Lahsa in Nasir Khusraw{\textquoteright}s Book of Travels (11th cent.), and the other is the tale of the Yemen messiah as told by Maimonides.",

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N2 - Abstract: This article explores the relationship between two tales from the Arabian peninsula in the high middle ages, in both of which the protagonist declares that he will prove his identity by coming back to life after being decapitated. One is the tale of Bu-Saʿid of Lahsa in Nasir Khusraw’s Book of Travels (11th cent.), and the other is the tale of the Yemen messiah as told by Maimonides.

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Decapitation and Resurrection in Nasir Khusraw and the Yemen Messiah: An Intertextual Suggestion

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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