A Path from Beholding Ephebe to Shāhid-bāzī: A Case Study of a Topos in Azeri Turkic Ṣūfī Poetry

This paper examines the expression of homoerotic desire towards young boys and its metaphysical reflection, the shāhid-bāzī / naẓar-bāzī tradition, within Azeri Turkic Ṣūfī poetry. It comparatively analyses elements of this tradition alongside the contemplation of ephebe in Greek tradition. The shāhid-bāzī traces its roots back to the controversial prophetic saying known as ḥadīth al-ru’yah . Its precursors offer a wide range of images within the historical and religious-mythological contexts of Greek, Arabic, and Persian traditions. The paper argues that while the male beloved derived main metaphors from these traditions, Ḥurūfism, as an ideological undercurrent in Azeri poetry, added specific lettrist and calligraphic features to this depiction. The male beloved in Azeri poetry has been classified into several types, including Christian and Zoroastrian boys, Turkish warriors, cup-bearers, schoolboys, and adult beloveds. This paper explores the appearance and clothing of the male beloved, his primary metaphors, and explains the use of female epithets in the depiction of male beauty.