What is art? Art is the “signature of civilization”, said Irish critic and playwright Bernard Shaw. So, can artistic talent really be considered as one of the fundamental qualities that distinguish modern humans from other species? In order to answer this question, it is
Author: Koray Koto
Halloween-Like Traditions and the Origin of Halloween
Celebrated on October 31st every year, Halloween is seen as a secular tradition today despite its pagan roots. The common point of Halloween celebrations, which has become widespread in countries such as Russia, Turkey and Japan with the effect of globalization, is the theme
Mysterious Discovery in Slovakia: Headless Skeletons Found
Archaeologists recently made a chilling discovery in Slovakia. In the west of the country, many headless skeletons dating from the Neolithic Age have been found. Archaeologists researching early Neolithic settlements in western Slovakia came across a mass grave dating back to about 7,000 years
Okunev Petroglyphs and Eurasian Solar Deities
The Okunev people have been the subject of many studies, both with their origins and the interesting abstract drawings they left behind. In the geography they spread, the solar-headed petroglyphs carved on steles and rocks are one of the oldest mythological archetypes related to
The Blood Oath Rites of the Scythians and Huns
The blood oath is a ritual, usually between two men, that provides a symbolic sense of attachment and eternal friendship. Blood oath rituals, common among nomadic peoples in ancient times, were also practiced in settled societies over time. Those who practice the blood oath
1.8 Million-Year-Old Tooth was Found in Georgia, So What Does This Mean?
Archaeologists have found human tooth about 1.8 million years old near the village of Orozmani, in southern Georgia. So what does this mean in anthropological and evolutionary terms? Archaeologists in Georgia recently stumbled upon an important archaeological remain. In a village near the border
The Scariest Creatures in Anatolian Folklore
Mythological entities, which are a part of Anatolian folk culture, are indispensable elements of both fairy tales and folk literature. Anatolian folklore is very colorful as its roots go back to Old Turkish, Caucasian, Greek and Persian cultures. For this reason, there are many
Alkarısı: The Lilith of Turkic Mythology
An evil woman in red. She might as well be called a witch. Some also liken her to Adam’s first wife, Lilith. She is famous for killing babies and puerperal women. In this respect, it can be said that she is in opposition to
Mammoths in Art, Mythology and Folk Beliefs
Mammoths… Cute to some of us, frightening to others. The mammoths, which played an important role in the daily life of our Paleolithic ancestors, went extinct long ago. But the deep traces they left in the social memory have not completely lost their effect
11 Scariest Creatures in Turkic and Altaic Myths
Mythological entities and fairy tale characters are important in that they carry traces of the social subconscious of the culture they belong to. Societies living in similar sociocultural conditions often believed in similar scary entities. For this reason, similar entities have appeared in the