The roots of goat symbolism extend back thousands of years, reaching into prehistoric times. Goats, among the first animals domesticated by humans, are known for their ability to navigate steep slopes effortlessly. Neolithic communities benefited from both the meat and milk, as well as
Category: Folk Beliefs
Shaman Drums: The Mysterious Symbolism of Communicating with Spirits
The most important instrument used by shamans to go into trance and communicate with supernatural beings is the drum. Shaman drums are usually made by stretching the skin of some animals such as goat, deer or cattle over a wooden frame. After the skin
Ubır: A Vampire-Like Creature in Turkic Mythology and Folk Beliefs
Turkic mythology, deriving its origins from animism, shamanism, Tengrism, and the Ural-Altaic folk belief system, encompasses a diverse array of supernatural creatures, such as Aldacı Han, Alkarısı, and others… Among these creatures, Ubır, notable for its resemblance to the contemporary vampire archetype, stands out
Death, Aldacı Han and Spirits Day in Turkic Mythology
The only thing we can never experience until we die is death itself. Although some of us consider it a simple transformation, death means pain and sadness for many people. So much so that both literature and art are full of myths of immortality
Juniper in Mythology and Folk Beliefs
Juniper, a coniferous tree of the genus Juniperus, is a species that can adapt to many climates. Therefore, it is possible to find some practices, myths and folk beliefs about juniper in many societies. Physical Characteristics of Juniper Tree The juniper tree, which can
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
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