Altaic mythology

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The mythologies and religions of the Turco-Mongol peoples (Turkic and Mongolian peoples, both groups speakers of Altaic languages) are related and have exerted strong influence on one another. Both groups of peoples qualify as Eurasian nomads and have been in close contact historically, as the Huns conquering much of Central Asia in the early centuries AD, and during the medieval Mongol Empire.

The oldest mythological concept that can be reconstructed with any certainty is the sky god Tengri, attested from the Xiong Nu in the 2nd century BC.

Geser (Ges'r, Kesar) is a Mogolian religious epic about Geser (also known as Bukhe Beligte), prophet of Tengriism.

1 Mongolian
2 Turkic
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Mongolian

Bai-Ulgan and Esege Malan are creator deities. Ot is the goddess of marriage. Tung-ak is the patron god of tribal chiefs.

Traditional epic tales are known as Uliger. The Epic of King Gesar is shared with much of Central Asia and Tibet.

[edit] Turkic

The Wolf symbolizes honour and is also considered the father of most Turkic peoples. Asena (Ashina Tuwu) is the wolf mother of Bumen, the first Khan of the Göktürks.

The Horse is also one of the main figures of Turkic mythology; Türks consider the horse an extension of the human, one creature.

The Dragon, also expressed as a Snake or Lizard, is the symbol of might and power. It is believed, especially in mountainous Central Asia, that dragons still live in the mountains of Tian Shan/Tengri Tagh and Altay. Dragons also symbolize the god Tengri (Tanrı) in ancient Turkic tradition, although dragons themselves aren't worshipped as gods.

The legend of Timur (Temir) is the most ancient and well-known. Timur found a strange stone that fell from the sky (an iron ore meteorite), making the first iron sword from it. Today, the word "temir" or "timur" means "iron".

Turkic mythology was influence by the local mythologies. For example, in Tatar mythology elements of Finnic and Indoeuropean co-exist. Some subjects from the tatar mythology: Äbädä, Şüräle, Şekä, Pitsen, Tulpar, Zilant

[edit] See also

[edit] References

This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Walter Heissig, The Religions of Mongolia, Kegan Paul (2000).
Gerald Hausman , Loretta Hausman, The Mythology of Horses: Horse Legend and Lore Throughout the Ages (2003), 37-46.
Yves Bonnefoy, Wendy Doniger, Asian Mythologies, University Of Chicago Press (1993), 315-339.