Creation Myth Explained In 10 Minutes // Turkic Mythology

According to Turkish mythology, there are several creation myths. The oldest and most well-known is the creation myth of the Altai Turks. The Altai creation myth has been greatly influenced by Mongol and Iranian cultures. The creation epic, which deals with the creation of the universe, the sources of good and evil, and the order in the universe, was compiled among the Altai Turks by Professor Wilhelm Radloff in the 19th century. The creation epic bears the traces of both old and new religions accepted by the Turks, especially Shamanism. Shamanism is a common religion among ancient Siberian peoples, especially the Turks and Mongols. Shamanism is the first important belief system to spread among the Turks after the totem religion. According to this religion, good spirits that die in the world take the form of a bird and ascend to the realm of light in the sky according to their level of goodness, while evil spirits descend to the underworld according to the degree of their evil deeds. The creation epic bears important traces of Turkish mythology, thought, and belief. According to the Altai creation myth, chaos prevailed at the beginning of the universe. Everywhere was dark. However, there was a goddess named Ak-Anna who lived in the water. Ak-Anna emerged from the endless waters, giving life to everything, and initiating the cycle of life by giving them all a soul, even though nothing had been created yet, and there was only endless water. Ak-Anna suddenly emerged from the water up to her waist and called out to Ilgen, As a creator, learn this holy word, say always, I have done it, do not say anything else, especially when you are creating, do not say it is not done. After saying this, Ak-Anna disappeared. She dived into the sea and disappeared, never to be seen again. Ilgen never forgot this command, and after creating people, he gave them the following instruction, do not say no to what exists, if you say there is none, what exists will also disappear. Creation Mythology Khaira Khan was the father of most gods. He created the gods. He would sit on the 17th floor of the sky, and initially he created Ilgen, who was the chief god. Ilgen descended from the sky to the earth, which was underwater, to give life to the earth. Ilgen, upon receiving instructions from Ak-Anna, who emerged from the water, first created the earth and then, successively, the sun, the moon, the stars, and humans. However, Ilgen was initially puzzled as to what to do first. He needed earth to create the earth. At that time, there was only water, no land. Ilgen descended into the water to create the earth. Just then, a being named Erlik approached Ilgen. Ilgen asked him, who are you? Erlik said, I have come to find soil and create land. Ilgen became angry and said, how can you create what I cannot create? Erlik replied, I will now find out how and from which material I will create the soil. Ilgen, how can you know how to create the soil? If you can find the soil, I won't be angry, but find it quickly. Erlik, if you don't get angry, I will find you soil from the bottom of the water. Erlik dived into the ground and found a mountain at the bottom of the water. He picked up a piece of soil from there and put it in his mouth and came out of the water. He spat the soil in his mouth into Ilgen's palm. Ilgen threw the soil into the water and said, as Ak-Inne had taught him, what I do will be done. The soil began to grow. A piece of land was formed on the water. Ilgen sent Erlik to bring mud from the bottom of the water for the second time. This time, Erlik gave Ilgen a part of the mud to create his own world. He hid another part in his mouth. When Ilgen said again, what I do will be done, the mud soil began to grow. As it started to grow in Erlik's mouth, he spat it out onto the ground before choking. Thus, the flat land created was made uneven by Erlik's spitting. Rivers, hills and mountains were thus created. Seeing this, Ilgen said in anger, why did you do this? Erlik, leaning against the tree, listened to him. I also wanted to create my own world. Ilgen continued to reprimand him. Ilgen came to a decision. You will not stay on earth again. Erlik said, then give me as much land as this tree, I leaned on, will cover. Ilgen replied, I will not give you anything. Erlik began to cry and beg. Ilgen's heart softened and he allowed it. Then Ilgen asked, what will you do with this place? As soon as Erlik heard these words, he disappeared into the ground. After creating the forest, Ilgen decided to create humans. According to the tales, Ilgen created the world in six days, slept on the seventh day, and woke up on the eighth day. Before creating humans, Ilgen created beings to serve him. After that, he created seven male humans whose bones were made from reeds and bodies from clay. He breathed soul and mind into them from their ears and noses. Then, on the eastern side of the Golden Mountain, Ilgen created another male human. While creating the eighth human, Ilgen placed him in a superior position to the others by saying, you know, you know. This eighth human's name was Maedir. Maedir repeated the command, you know, and created a woman and a man from reeds and clay. Although he created them, he did not know how to give life to this body. He waited for Ilgen to come. Maedir left a dog by their side to guard the humans and left. Erlik took advantage of this situation and emerged from underground. He deceived the dog, persuading it to take him to where the humans were, by blowing nine strings of the Temir Komuz musical instrument. From that day on, women had seven types of character and nine languages. After this incident, Maedir, who emerged, asked the guard dog why it had done this. The dog told Maedir about the promises Erlik had made to him. I will give you fur that does not get wet in the water in summer. I will give you shoes that will not freeze your feet in winter. When you are hungry, I will give you sweet food that you will not die. And when you are full, I will give you food to eat with pleasure. Before cursing the dog, Maedir explained these promises made by Erlik. What he calls fur will be things to cover your fur. What he calls shoes will be clawed nails. And what he calls sweet food will be foul-smelling food. From now on, you will live outside of human homes, protect their belongings, and eat whatever they give you. Maedir gathered the first seven humans and wanted them to marry the woman with the bad-smelling soul given by Erlik. The first three men went to the woman and told her that her soul was different and bad. The next three men said the same thing and drove Alten away from the Golden Mountain. When this happened, Maedir took a rib from the last man and created a new woman and married her to one of the men. And thus the human race would continue. Another creation myth tells the story of a frog asking Ulgen, why do you want to punish humans? Those who are destined to die will die, and those who are destined to live will live. Let them live as they wish. Ulgen decided to allow this. Ulgen thought that humans needed fire to keep warm. The frog told Ulgen to take fire from a poplar tree on the mountain. Ulgen peeled off a piece of bark from the poplar tree and struck a stone to ignite a fire. He gave this fire to a couple named Turenge and Isi. Ulgen told them they could eat from any food except the fruit of a certain tree, which he pointed out to them. Then Ulgen disappeared. Before disappearing he created a snake to protect humans and the fruits. Turenge and Isi were happy because they had all the food they wanted. Erlik took advantage of Ulgen's absence and approached Turenge and Isi. He told them that Ulgen had not forbidden them from eating the bad fruits, but the good ones. Because Ulgen had kept the good fruits for himself, hearing Erlik's words, Isi bit into the forbidden fruit, and not content with that, she also smeared it on her husband's mouth. As soon as they put the fruit in their mouths, all the feathers of Turenge and Isi fell out. Ashamed, they hid behind the tree. The snake, unable to protect the fruit, was cursed. When Ulgen returned, he could not find the humans. He called out to Turenge and Isi, who responded from behind the trees, expressing their shame. Ulgen called them over, and the couple covered their shameful parts with leaves. Seeing the humans in this state, Ulgen understood the situation and became very angry. He said, I told you not to eat that fruit, but you did. Therefore go to the earth and wait for your time of death. And Ulgen passed his final judgment. Isi, from now on, you will bear children. You will suffer greatly in childbirth. Turenge, because you were deceived by a woman, you will have to find food for yourself and take care of your family by working, and you humans will taste death. Thus, Ulgen created the earth, animals, and plants. Then he created the moon and the sun. Ulgen created for six days and rested on the seventh. Turenge and Isi had nine sons and daughters, who eventually married each other. With Ulgen's will, humanity was created. They earned their own livelihoods, multiplied, fought, shed the first blood, died, and killed. They learned what old age, illness, and death were. Thus began the struggle of humans, cast down from the side of the god, to prove themselves.