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Azerbaijani mythology is an example of folk mythology containing archaic elements, developed by Azerbaijanis throughout the centuries.

Azerbaijani mythology is embodied explicitly in a large collection of narratives and implicitly in representational arts, such as vase painting and votive gifts.

Azerbaijani mythology has exerted an extensive influence on the culture, the arts, and the literature of Middle Eastern civilization and remains part of Caucasian heritage and language. Poets and artists from ancient times to the present have derived inspiration from Azerbaijani mythology and have discovered contemporary significance and relevance in these mythological themes.

Key texts

The mythology of Azerbaijan is not of systematic and full character in comparison with that of the ancient Hindu mythology or Greek mythology but it is possible to find out the traces of Azerbaijan mythology in Azerbaijani folklore.

The first specimen of Azerbaijan mythology is included in works of Herodotus, which were the reflection of people's literary thinking concerning the reasons of collapsing Medes, an ancient Azerbaijan state, and its occupation by Iran.

The elements of Azerbaijani mythology

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Good and evil

The characters of Azerbaijani mythology nearly always splited into either good or the evil nature. The resultant discord mirrors the ancient conflict, which in Azerbaijani mythology is related on the Zoroastrian concept of the dual emanation of Ahura Mazda. Spenta Mainyu is the source of constructive energy, while Angra Mainyu is the source of darkness, destruction, sterility, and death. Notable villains include Div, which always represented as devil or the enemy.

Heroism and wisdom

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Azerbaijani myths often reveal the heroism and wisdom of a human being as in Epic of Köroğlu, Book of Dede Korkut and Əsli və Kərəm.

Supernatural beings

• Meshe Adam (Template:Lang-az), sometimes known as Ağac Kişi (literally tree man or forest man) is according to Azerbaijani and Karachay mythology is spirit, who lives in mountainous forests. It often represented in the form of hairy creatures of both sexes, having an intermediate between ape and a human face with a sharp odor. It was believed that during search of food, Meshe Adam goes under cover of to the gardens and orchards during night time, while putting on a discarded human clothes. According to some researchers, the image Meshe Adam is a variant of the legend of the snowman.
• Gulyabani (Template:Lang-az) is evil spirit, who lives in desert and cemeteries. According to Azerbaijani and Turkish researchers, Gulyabani's main occupation was scaring night travellers, while he had features of a werewolf at night. He was also loves riding horses, while mixing horses mane. According to the legend, Gulyabani will work for humans, if person can penetrate with needle his collar. But at the same time he will serve all the orders of master as vice versa. In the western regions of Azerbaijan, Gulyabani often identified as malicious spirit of water Ardov.
• Simurgh (Template:Lang-az) are often described as the ancient symbol of goodness and rebirth in Azerbaijan mythology. The symbol of the Simurg is closely associated with ancient European-Asian myth about an Phoenix like bird which for the first time brought to Earth the sprout of the tree of life from either the sky or the sacred mountain.
• Pəri (Template:Lang-az) is fairy type legendary creature, often have the ability to grant wishes to mortals, but that usually requires battle, while sometimes imprisonment, rituals, or just a great deal of flattery.
• Tepegoz (Template:Lang-az) is an Azerbaijani mythical creature similar to the cyclops Polyphemus.
• Ajdaha (Template:Lang-az) is fire breathing dragon, sometimes described as having many heads.

Relations with other mythological systems

Azerbaijani mythology is perhaps closest to Turkic mythology and Persian mythology, and according to the prevalent point of view, Azerbaijanis shared the same myths and basic features of their religion with the Iranian peoples. On the other hand, individual elements have much in common with other mythological systems, and especially with those of neighbouring cultures.

See also

• Zoroastrianism
• Azerbaijani literature
• Turkic mythology
• Iranian mythology

References

1. Yeni ədəbiyyat tariximizin ilk cildləri Template:Az icon
2. MİFOLOGİYA ŞÖBƏSİ Template:Az icon
3. ^ Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan: Folklore
4. Making Sense of Azerbaijan's Legends
5. “Koroğlu”ya ümumtürk məhəbbəti
6. Азербайджанская литература 5-18 вв. Template:Ru icon
7. "Mother-of-All-Books": Dada Gorgud
8. Мифы народов мира. Энциклопедия. Т.1. «Советская энциклопедия», 1991. ISBN 5-85270-016-9
9. Кавказская мифология/Азербайджанская мифология — Агач Киши
10. Кавказская мифология/Азербайджанская мифология — гюль-ябани Template:Ru icon
11. Eagle Tattoos and Tattoo Designs - Symbolism and Meaning
12. SİMURQ Template:Az icon
13. TƏPƏGÖZÜN MÜƏMMASI
14. C. S. Mundy (1956). "Polyphemus and Tepegöz". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 18 (2): 279–302.
15. Təpəgöz Template:Az icon
16. Mifologiyanın ümumi-nəzəri məsələlri Template:Az icon
17. Anaz Radio Voice of South Azerbaijan: Folklor Template:Az icon

• Azerbaijani mythology
• Turkic mythology
• Azerbaijani culture