NOMADS ARE HEADING WEST The concept of the "Great Migration of Peoples" was introduced into science by Western European historians, designating the period of the collapse of the Roman Empire and the settlement of its lands by "wild" Germans, Slavs, and proto-Turkic tribes in the 2nd to 5th centuries. A powerful impetus to this process was given by the nomads inhabiting Central Asia. At the turn of the old and new eras, the steppe came to life. Suddenly and swiftly, the
BARSKHAN - THE CITY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT The medieval historian of the Persian and Arab world, Abu Said ibn Mahmud Gardizi, in his work "Zayn al-Akhbar" ("The Beauty of Narratives"), provides a description of several cities on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, some of which later sank underwater. These are the cities of Yar, Ton, and Barskhan, where the great linguist Mahmud Kashgari was born, the author of the famous dictionary of ancient Turkic dialects ("Divan
RECEPTION OF SCYTHIAN AMBASSADORS BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT The morning appointed by Alexander for the crossing had arrived. In the midst of preparations, a rumor spread that Scythian ambassadors had arrived from the other shore. Warriors gathered from all around to watch as two dozen barbarians in simple clothing rode through the camp, accompanied by Ptolemy's warriors. They were unarmed. Their faces were grim.
Shirak - a simple sack shepherd who gave his life for the Motherland In ancient times, the Persian king Darius I, who conquered many nations, came to the land of the Sakas and demanded "land and water," meaning "submission." The Sak leaders gathered for a council. Their army was small: many tribes were wandering far in the steppes and mountains. It took time to gather them. The leaders argued for a long time, searching for a way out. Some suggested retreating far from the
TOMYRIS In the summer of 530 BC, approaching the river bordering the territory of the Scythians, Cyrus II sent envoys to propose marriage to the widow Tomyris. The queen understood that the Persian ruler was not interested in a wife, but rather in vast lands, wealth, and the brave warriors of the Scythians. And Tomyris refused. The reason for war was sufficient, and the Persians began to cross the river. The Scythians did not hinder this: Tomyris believed that it would be harder for the
THE HOLIDAY OF THE SAKE NOWRUZ Here’s how Nowruz was celebrated among the river Saka. ...Only the next day by evening, grandfather, son, and grandson reached Roksanaka — the residence of the ruler of the river Saka.
"Barskoon" Barskoon is the name of a village located on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The elders say that a long time ago, a Russian man named Boris settled on the shore of the lake. He built a house, planted a garden, and started growing various fruits and vegetables: tomatoes, potatoes, melons, and watermelons. This was an unprecedented, new phenomenon in this area. After some time, a Kyrgyz family settled nearby. The head of this family had never seen the fruits that grew in
"Kokuy-Kul" Among the high mountains lies a small but very deep lake called Kokuy-Kul. Children often ask their parents about the origin of the lake's name and in response, they hear an ancient legend. It happened a long time ago. On the shore of the lake lived a shepherd who had a wife and five small sons. The father was always busy with his shepherding duties, grazing sheep in the pastures, on the slopes, and in the hollows. The children stayed at home with their mother,
How Lake Issyk-Kul Came to Be Many legends have been woven by the people about how Lake Issyk-Kul appeared. This is one of them. In ancient times, where the high-altitude lake now splashes, there stood a large and beautiful city. One day, a great disaster struck—a powerful earthquake that spared neither buildings nor people. The ground sank, and the resulting hollow filled with water. A lake formed in the place of the city. It so happened that the day before the terrible earthquake, a group of
"The Old Man and the Millstones" Once upon a time, in one of the villages by the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, there lived an old man. He needed round stones to grind oats and wheat. In those days, round, flat stones were used for making flour. One day, the old man rode his donkey to the lake shore to find suitable stones. A long time passed before he finally found what he was looking for. One of the stones was very large, and the other was small. The old man put both stones in a bag and
"Forty Girls" Whether it happened or not, no one knows. One of the legends states that long ago, the Kyrgyz had a tradition of celebrating the Day of God. On that day, everyone would have fun, fry boorsoks (bread baked in oil or fat), cook shorpo (meat soup), and visit each other's families. Girls and boys, dressed in their best clothes, would set out to visit the residents of other ails scattered among the mountains. On one such day, forty girls, dressed in bright silk outfits,
SEVEN MONTHS UNDERGROUND. Part 3 Seven long months behind, How the hero lives underground. He set off on a distant journey, To bring back his little sister, And he did not know that here He would be mining lead and mercury. He learned to forge stone, To knead it like clay, and to mold, To cast heavy metal, He learned many useful secrets. Every day the attentive brother, He is glad to see his sister, They discuss their affairs And encourage each other with words. It has become easier for Maktym
CONVERSATION IN THE YURT. Part 2 Olokon rises, He heads towards the yurt, Gripping the horse firmly by the bridle. And leads it by the reins, He passes the wide meadow — Who is there in the yurt — an enemy or a friend? He shouted loudly: “Who is here? A man or an evil demon? I swear — and honor is my pledge. I will see you now. If you are a simple man, I want to ask for directions. If you are a shaitan or an abrek, Then a fight is no trouble for a batyr. For thirty days misfortune chased me
Dzhanar and Olokon SONG OF INTRODUCTION The path of the akyn is shrouded in fog... A torrent of feelings and thoughts swirls, But will it flow into the dastan Or dissipate like mist? Whatever it may be — believe in good. Cast away doubts — forward, pen! The poet begins the tale, And the soul, agitated, burns, Perhaps the sound of the poem and light Will illuminate someone’s heart. Intoxicated by inspiration, He is under the sway of his dreams... And perhaps tomorrow he will Re-read, tear the
Reins The caravan was moving through the gorge. At the very front was the respected elder, followed by younger relatives, and at the end were the youngest. A young jigit, who was in the middle, was constantly talking about something, asking various questions, and generally did not stop. The elder said to him: - Jigit, hold your reins.
Curse A little boy heard the word "curse" from the adults and immediately ran to ask his grandfather about it. - Grandpa, what is a curse? Does it always come true? The grandfather replied in a quiet voice: - No, my son, only three curses always come true: the curse of one's parents, the curse of a beggar or a helpless person, and the curse of a widow or an orphan.
To Remain Human In one village, there lived an extraordinarily beautiful mulatto girl, who had many admirers, and each of them sought her hand in marriage. But the girl was very modest and wise. One day, misfortune came to their village. A huge monster blocked the river with its body, the water of which was used by all the villagers for drinking and watering their crops. Shortly after, due to the scorching sun, a famine began in the village.
Hunter Bagysh (based on a Kyrgyz folk tale) “Long, whether poor or rich, Once upon a time, there lived on earth” - Thus, tales usually begin. About Bagysh, believing in the tale sacredly, I will tell you in a new way.
The Bride and the Matchmakers In one family, there was a daughter of marriageable age. One day, matchmakers came to their house. The father, being a wise man, said: - It is a sin to keep an adult daughter at home. We have known you for a long time; you are good people, and we can become related. The satisfied matchmakers left. Days and weeks passed, but no one else came. After some time, new matchmakers arrived. The girl's father also gave his consent. But these matchmakers also left and
Drink for the Thirsty Once there lived a rich man who helped people as best he could. He considered himself a righteous man. One day, he decided to test his fate - to go out into the vast steppe to meet a wise saint who could bless him and fulfill his cherished dream. He prepared for this meeting for a long time, fasting, making sacrifices, and giving gifts to the needy. On one of the favorable days, he went out into the steppe, holding a ladle of water in his hand. As soon as he had left the
The Power of Motherhood Many tales are dedicated to the woman-mother. Here is one of them. Once upon a time, there was a very stubborn and willful son of a widow. He constantly contradicted his mother. One day, the mother, losing her patience, asked him: — What about your duty as a son, my dear? I dedicated my life to you! The next morning, the son decided to "settle" all his "debts" to rid himself of his mother's care. — What should I do to fulfill my duty as a son?
Dignity In ancient times, in a certain village, women began to take their own lives one after another. Some hanged themselves, some jumped off cliffs, and some stabbed themselves in the chest, as if an epidemic had swept through. Nothing and no one could stop them - neither prohibitions nor decrees. Then the khan decided to consult a sage for advice on how to protect the women from such a dangerous epidemic. Without much thought, the sage advised issuing a decree that the bodies of those who
Trust In a mountain village lived a beautiful young couple. He was a smart, agile dzhigit. She was a radiant beauty and a skilled craftswoman. They lived happily, much to the envy of their fellow villagers. But after a while, it seemed as if a black cat had run between them, as their relationship soured. Mutual distrust arose, and the gossip and rumors from the neighbors only intensified their disagreements. One morning, after waking up and stepping out of the yurt, the dzhigit saw strange
Last Hope This is an old story. One khan became rich at the expense of the common people and became very harsh and unjust towards them. The people endured his mockery for a long time and, eventually, united, they overthrew him, captured him, and imprisoned him in a dark cell. He remained in captivity for a long time, and one night, death came to him. And, if for the khan power and wealth had been above all else before, now he asked death for only one thing — to grant him hope for one more day,
Mother's Milk It was a long time ago, during the time of the Kyrgyz war with the Dzungars. One day, one of the Kyrgyz heroes was captured. For the Dzungars, the main goal was to find out how to penetrate the fortress and destroy the Kyrgyz army. Unable to withstand the torture, the hero revealed the secret. After that, the Dzungars managed to capture the fortress, and the Kyrgyz troops were forced to temporarily retreat. The Kyrgyz elders were puzzled as to why the best and bravest
The Donkey Once, a donkey fell into a well. The owner thought about what to do. Finally, he made a decision; he figured the donkey was old, and the well needed to be closed anyway. It simply wasn't worth the effort to pull the old donkey out. He invited all his neighbors to help him bury the well. Everyone eagerly took up shovels and began to dig and throw dirt into the well. The donkey realized what was happening and began to make a terrible noise.
Unspoken Words One man constantly conflicted with his wife and could not find common ground with her. He decided to go to the elder and share his concerns. After carefully listening to the young man, the elder told him to remember all the bad words his wife directed at him. The young man did as the elder instructed and came back to recount word for word how his wife scolded him. Then the elder said to him: - This time, if your wife starts scolding you again, think about what good words she
The Tale of the Bright Night. Part 3. Chapter 3. And the next day before the crowd A fight on the peaks, a fierce fight, Two brave men have begun — Fiery hearts, And, giving blows to each other, Crushing each other's chests to blood, Both heroes fell! ...And the archers hear the call! They aim to strike — the jambe, The strings ring out loudly. And they spare neither arrows nor strength... Here Chorten invited Chilten To try to obtain the jambe... Chilten was glad to test his fate. He
Unwanted Money This happened at the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War. In a Kyrgyz village, a young dzhigit worked as a cashier and anxiously awaited being sent to the front. One day, unable to bear it any longer, he ran away into the forest, taking all the money from the cash register with him. The villagers searched for him for a long time in all the surrounding areas, but they could not find him, remaining without money in such a difficult time. Only after the war ended did the
The Dream of Aikokul. Part 3. Chapter 1 What frightened and confused Aikokul as she awoke from her sleep? But an invisible point Suddenly pierced her heart. Or will someone close to her Be struck by a cruel fate? Or are her dearest ones Now ambushed by an enemy? A delusion — Three days ago A dream brought a haze: With fire-like eyes, spotted and striped, A wild goat appeared to her. It bent down, preparing to leap, And brave Chilten was on guard — He grabbed its fur, mounted up... And the
Best Solidarity A year after their wedding, the husband went on a business trip. Delayed, he informed his wife that he had stopped by to visit his best friend, while he had actually managed to take a trip to Issyk-Kul. The clever wife sent telegrams to all his friends. And she received completely identical replies from them: “Don’t worry, he’s with me.” Now that’s true male friendship! Worship Long ago, on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, there lived an old woman of about eighty. Nearby, in her
Poison: Evil or Good? Three friends argued about the properties of poison and its significance for humans. - Poison heals people from ailments, - asserted the first, - the best doctors use it to help their patients. Poison is good.
What the Stone Mirror Revealed Part 2. Chapters 4-5 Beyond the sands— the blooming grasses... The edge of meadows and cool oak groves. Here the heroes set up camp, Resting, unsaddling their horses. And they run to bathe on the shore. ...They have lived here many days. And Chilten, as before, was gloomy, Gazing at the deep blue. Sometimes he spoke with the cuckoo, Sometimes he stroked the grass by the shore. Enthralled by the beauty Of the noble brave man, To the light With a song, rose the
The Eternal Bride In the times when the Kyrgyz still lived along the banks of the Yenisei River, there was a custom among them. They never referred to any of their women as "old woman." All married women were necessarily called daughters-in-law. One foreign guest asked a Kyrgyz elder why they did this. - You always say girl (kız) or daughter-in-law (kelin). Why do you call even those women who are already of advanced age daughters-in-law?
In the Captivity of the King of Jackals Chapter 3 The travelers ride through the forests. Bees gather honey here, The voices of springs Entice the thirsty with the splash of water. And they reached the chain, Like beads, of even mountains, And arrived at the lakes, Painting the blue heights. Here flowers are more numerous than stars, And the grass is human height Hiding large game, And it’s impossible to catch prey in the meadows. Herds run here, Like the furious wind of deserts, And, as if
Everyone has their own happiness We cannot say what a person needs for happiness. But each of us seeks in life and strives for what is especially lacking. Once, children were asked to draw what they imagine Heaven to be like. The first child drew toys, the second an apple, the third a person with three legs, and the fourth a smiling child in their mother's arms.
Duels with the Flat-Foot. Part 1. Chapter 3 The rider rode along the rocky ledges, Galloping to his native camp For forty days and forty nights... But wherever he turns his eyes, Everywhere is a military camp... But whose? And some strange speech, And faces that are not right. Braids fall to their shoulders, Eyes shine in the dark... Flags flutter among the tips of spears... And any animal here Is ready to be turned into shashlik in an instant. Here on the spears — a tethered horse, And
The Teachings of the Nomad A young man moved to live in a separate yurt after getting married. He went with his family to the first summer pasture on the jailoo and began to ask the elders for advice on everything. The elders told him: - There are three laws: the laws (rules) of how to keep livestock you know, there are the laws of nature that you must always observe, and the law of family - you must do everything together with your wife.
What is more precious In the good old days, by the shore of Lake Altyn-Kul, there lived a khan. He was very, very rich. The khan had a lot of gold, but he lacked the most important thing — drinking water. Desperate, the khan turned to God and asked Him to turn all the gold into water.
INTRODUCTION This tale my father Told me in full, from beginning to end, Saying at the end, from himself, That he learned it from his father. It was sweet for me to listen to the song. It sang to me, as I sing now, This tale from my grandmother's mother, Remembering her great-grandmother... Like sailing ships, Cutting through the mirrors of the seas, Parting the spaces of the earth, This tale has passed through time. And in the dust of caravan paths It walked through storms and eras, And
About the Skillful Mistress, Like the Ringing Song of the People's Soul In a small coastal village, there lived a beautiful craftswoman named Uz-ene. Her eyes were like two drops of sky. She often loved to gaze at the silvery waves of Issyk-Kul, so that later she could reproduce them on her canvas. The girl said she understood the language of water and wind, of animals and birds, and often conversed with them. Uz-ene always admired the flight of seagulls and swans, and thus she was best
Orphan and Cow This was a long time ago. An orphan boy lived with his father. He spent every day from morning till evening herding cows. The other children constantly bullied him, sometimes he went hungry, and a mother's affection was foreign to him. One day, after yet another scandal and beatings from his stepfather, the boy hid in the barn, climbed into the hay feeder to warm himself, and suddenly felt the cow begin to lick the tears from his face. No one had ever treated him so gently
Hot Springs In one khanate, there were three magical wells. Only the khan knew the secret of each and therefore guarded them from the eyes of the people. The wells were covered and tightly bound so that the water would not spill over the edge. In the same khanate lived a beautiful girl from a very poor family. And it so happened that the khan's son fell in love with her. However, the cruel and greedy khan did not allow his son to even think about her. One day, angry at his son's
Spring Once upon a time, in ancient times, after fierce battles with invaders, during a period of cold and hunger, the Kyrgyz found themselves on the brink of extinction and were forced to relocate to another area. Considering that the journey would be long, it was decided, at the suggestion of the leader, not to take along the seriously ill and elderly. Leaving their familiar lands, most of the Kyrgyz set off on their journey. Only one of the horsemen did not want to part with his father and
"Spring will come, but I will not see it" Once, while traveling in distant lands, a wanderer met a blind old man. The old man was sitting by the road, begging for alms from passersby. A sign hung on the old man's chest that read: "Give to the blind man." — I have nothing to give you, father, but perhaps I can help in another way. How much money do people give you in a day? – asked the traveler of the old man.
The Land is the Highest Value This was in ancient times when the Kyrgyz lived in the expanses of the Yenisei. After a long and hard war with their enemies, they sent a representative to negotiate with them. Upon receiving the ambassador, the great khan offered him to sit on the rich carpets spread out in his chambers. But he took a handful of soil from his kurdzhun and poured it on the floor, then sat on this soil. “What are you doing?” the khan asked in astonishment.
