Erlik, Ülgen and Turkic Mythology: An Exploration of Gods and Legends
The Turkic peoples' myths and deities extend beyond the Göktürks' known entities, Tengri, Umay, and the Yer-Su. Explore the realms of Kayra Khan, Ak Ana, and Erlik, the underworld lord, and tales of a moon-eating monster, a liver-stealing woman, and a mountain of iron. Delve into the primeval sea, the night sky with Yelbeğen, and Ulukayın, the tree of life. Discover the spirits of hearth and lake, the forest's call, and the legend of Ergenekon.
The episode answers key questions: Did the Göktürks know these gods? What does their cosmos look like? What were the consequences of defying their rules?
Key Topics:
- The Primeval Sea: Kayra Khan, Ak Ana, and Erlik's origins
- The Night Sky: Yelbeğen, Altınkazık, and Ülker
- The Tree of Life: Ulukayın and Beyterek
- Birth in the Tent: Albastı, Aysit, and Umay
- Hearth and House: İye spirits and Şahmeran
- The Call in the Forest: Arçura and Bayanay
- The White Deer: Shemo and the sea god's daughter
- Two Heroes, Two Monsters: Oghuz Khan and Tepegöz
- Ergenekon: The iron mountain legend
- The Mountain of Fortune: The Uyghurs' lost realm
Explore Turkic history from original sources on TurkicAtlas.org.
A film by Emre-E Yavuz, featuring maps © Emre-E Yavuz 2026.
#Turkic Mythology, #Erlik, #Ülgen, #Göktürks, #Kayra Khan, #Ak Ana, #Ergenekon, #Tengri, #Umay, #Yer-Su
Timeline
00:00:The Three Powers: Tengri, Umay and the Yer-Su
01:46:The Primeval Sea: Kayra Khan and Ak Ana
03:50:The Night Sky: Yelbeğen, Altınkazık and Ülker
06:20:The Tree of Life: Ulukayın and Kübey
08:41:Birth in the Tent: Albastı
11:08:Hearth, House and Lake: the İye and Şahmeran
14:57:The Call in the Forest: Arçura and Bayanay
16:57:The White Deer: Shemo and the Sea God
18:49:Two Heroes, Two Monsters: Oghuz Khan, Basat and Tepegöz
23:13:The Valley with No Way Out: Ergenekon
25:16:The Mountain of Fortune: Kut Tag
27:55:Back to the Stones: Tengri and the Kut