Quote:
HoneyBadger said:
I'm also interested, if anyone posting to this thread is an authority-what the mythic "environment" was like in pre-Islam Turkey, since the area of Turkey itself is such a cultural crossroads and melting-pot.
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Pre- Islamic Turks were near China, raiding it when it showed any weakness, and competing with mongols over the meager pastures for horses.
Thus Mythic creatures were heavily influenced by Chinese culture, as shamen also use the very same Chinese calendar for astrology, plus a very rare legend, the One Eyed Monster, born when a Turkic shepherd raped a fairy princess who was bathing near a river. The monster ate sheep and men without pause until a hero I forgot its name killed him with a red-hot iron javelin through the skull. Gray Wolves are honored as sacred animals representing courage,speed and ferocity, deer were venerated for their vigilance and speed.
Stars could tell the future, and Air, especially lightning was seen as the power of the Sky Father, Tengri.
Earth Mother and Sky father are two things I remember exactly.
Today's "Turkey",Anatolia is different, it got visited by first Turks in 1000,1050. In 1071, a large battle between the Byzantines and Turks happened in Malazgirt(The Emperor should know better than hiring Turkic mercenaries against Turks, is that a turncoat over there?
), the aftermath was simply a continously ebbing,receding Byzantium.
The bonus is, almost every cuisine in Turkish Kitchen today is taken from Anatolia.
