Gökbörü’den Oğuz Kağan’a: Türk Mitolojisi, Destanlar ve Tarihsel Miras / Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taşağıl

Professor Dr. Ahmet TAŞAĞIL, Head of Yeditepe University's History Department, explained in detail what Gökbörü symbolized in ancient Turkish history. He explained that the word "Gök" represents holiness, the sky, and God in the Turkish belief system, and that "börü," or wolf, has been considered the most sacred animal of the Turks since the Göktürk period. He emphasized that the wolf is an important symbol not only for its physical strength but also for its guiding, wise, strategist, and protective qualities. He explained that special units among the Göktürks were called "börü" because they were believed to be descended from wolves. He explained that the origin of the wolf belief lies in the figure of the female wolf "Aşina," known in Turkish as Asena, who appears in the Göktürk origin legend. He added that this belief also appears in the Oghuz Khagan Epic and the Ergenekon Epic. Taşağıl explained that there are many sacred animals in Turkish mythology, in addition to the wolf, and explained that animals such as deer, horses, leopards, eagles, bulls, and cranes are prominent in different regions. He explained that this diversity is linked to the vastness of the geography in which Turks live and the cultural interactions they share. For example, he noted that deer are important in Turkish communities living in forested areas in Siberia, ibex and mountain sheep in the steppes, and the dove symbolizes Bektashiism in Anatolia. Also touching on sacred trees, Taşağıl explained that beech trees are prominent in Central Asia, mulberry trees in Anatolia, olive trees in the Mediterranean region, and plane trees due to their longevity. In some regions, beech forests were deliberately cultivated by the Turks. He explained that water sources called Arjan or Bulak are considered sacred, and that this understanding is present in Shamanism and belief systems intertwined with Buddhist elements. He explained that the "Tree of Life," as an entity extending from the underworld to the sky, symbolizes life and the universe, and that this holds a significant place in mythology. Taşağıl also touched upon the Ergenekon legend, explaining that his field research led him to believe the setting of this legend could be the Altai Mountains on the Western Mongolia-Western Kazakhstan border. He noted that the region is surrounded by mountains on all sides, has only one pass, and is rich in iron ore. He stated that this description aligns with depictions of Ergenekon in both written sources and legend. Taşağıl also discussed important figures and epics in Turkic mythology, citing Tomyris Hatun, a legendary Sakha ruler who lived in the 6th century BC and won a victory against the Persians. He stated that Mete Khan was the leader who united all Turkic tribes under a single banner, and that the Oghuz Khagan Epic is the most comprehensive and integrative epic of the Turkic world. He explained that Oghuz Khagan established a world state and bequeathed unity to his sons, and that the bow and arrow are symbols of unity and sovereignty in this epic. He also stated that the Dede Korkut Stories, the Manas Epic, and the Alper Tunga Epic are among the cornerstones of Turkish culture. He added that while the figure of Umay Ana is popularly known as a goddess, she is actually an angel, her name means "mother's womb," and her origins are Manchurian. Taşağıl also discussed the meanings of directions and colors in ancient Turkish beliefs, explaining that the east symbolized plants with its gray, green, and blue hues; the south symbolized fire with its red; the west symbolized water with its white; the north symbolized metal with its black; and the center symbolized gold with its yellow. He explained that this is where the name of the Golden Horde State comes from. He explained that the nomadic lifestyle of the Turks allowed them to spread across vast territories and be influenced by different cultures, which increased the diversity of mythology. He explained that in Chinese history, foreign communities, such as the Manchus, Mongols, and Turks, established dynasties and ruled, often due to their strong military structures. He explained that the Roman army adopted its cavalry tactics, use of stirrups, and rapid mobility from the Turks, while Turkish ironwork increased agricultural production in Central and Northern Europe, leading to population growth. He emphasized that all these elements indicate that Turkish mythology is not merely a collection of legends but also a reflection of historical and cultural interactions.