‘Meliselda’ and its Symbolism for Sabbatai Sevi, His Inner Circle and His Later Followers

Abstract

"‘Meliselda’, a Spanish oicotype of ‘Melisenda Insomne’, a famous French ballad from Carolingian period, played a prominent role in Sabbatai’s own weltanschauung, its importance in their leader’s eyes was recognized by the initiated members Sabbatai’s inner circle, some of which have even produced its Hebrew adaptations - and, finally, in the course of time, it was consecrated by Sabbatai’s firmest believers, those who have followed him in his partial conversion to Islam. As such it was included in the corpus of their sacred poetry. The present article offers an analysis of the symbolism ascribed to ‘Meliselda’ by Sabbatai himself, by his disciples and apostles (such as Avraham Yakhini), and by the members of the new religious community that bears Sabbatai’s name until this very day..."

'Meliselda', španski oikotip 'Meliselda Insomne', poznate francuske balade iz karolinškog razdoblja, igrala je istaknutu ulogu u Šabetajevom vlastitom Weltanschauungu (pogledu na svet). Njen začaj prepoznali su i inicirani članovi Šabetajevog užeg kruga, od kojih su neki izradili i njegove hebrejske adaptacije. S vremenom su je i najtvrđi Šabetajevi sljedbenici (koji su ga pratili u njegovom delomičnom prelasku na islam), uključili u korpus njihove svete poezije. Ovaj članak nudi analizu simbolike koju su Meliseldi pripisali sam Šabetaj, njegovi učenici i apostoli (poput Avrahama Yakhinija) i članovi nove verske zajednice koja i do danas nosi Šabetajevo ime.