The thesis examines Nizari Ismailism and its literary representation in Vladimir Bartol’s novel Alamut. The first part reconstructs the religious and philosophical background of the Nizaris: from the origins of Shi’i Islam and the significance of the Battle of Karbala to the doctrine of the Imamate, the period of the Hidden Imam, the establishment of the Fatimid Caliphate, and the development of characteristic practices in the Alamut period, such as assassinations, the doctrine of ta’lim, and the proclamation of qiyama. Special attention is given to the role of the Imam as both a religious and political authority, as well as to the context of political marginalization that shaped the Nizari religious-philosophical tradition. The second part analyzes Bartol’s novel through the epistemological framework of Said’s Orientalism. It highlights key motifs such as the »secret order of assassins,« the »artificial paradise,« and the »Old Man of the Mountain,« which derive primarily from European legends and orientalist representations rather than authentic sources of Nizari Ismailism. The comparison shows that Bartol was familiar with certain historical and doctrinal elements, yet simultaneously reproduced orientalized images. Thus, Alamut is only partially faithful to the historical tradition of the Nizaris, while it primarily reflects European philosophical notions of nihilism and Machiavellianism, projected onto the Oriental world.
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