Himiana

Himiana
A Mandaean priestly initiate wearing the himiana (bottom)
Typegirdle or belt
Materialwool
Place of originsouthern Iraq and southwestern Iran

The himiana (Classical Mandaic: ࡄࡉࡌࡉࡀࡍࡀ) or hemyanā is a sacred ritual girdle or belt used by the Mandaeans.[1] Traditionally, it is white, tubular, and made of wool.[2]

Etymology[edit]

Himiana is a Persian loanword, like burzinqa (turban) and margna (staff).[3]

Description[edit]

Unlike the Zoroastrian kushti, which is made of 72 threads, the Mandaean himiana is made of 60 woolen threads.[2][3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  2. ^ a b Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937). The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
  3. ^ a b Gelbert, Carlos (2023). The Key to All the Mysteries of Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. pp. 577–584. ISBN 9780648795414.