WOLF SYMBOL IN TURKISH HISTORY
The wolf has a very important place in Turkish history, especially in epics, legends and stories. Agile, strong and able to survive in very difficult conditions, the wolf has been accepted as a symbol of the life and fighting power of the Turkish nation throughout history.
The wolf motif was handled carefully in Göktürk epics, and the reproduction of the Turks was attributed to this motif. In the legends, it is mentioned that the ancestor of the Ashina family, the Gokturk Khagan dynasty, was a she-wolf. In another Turkish narrative, the Oghuz Khagan epic, a talking wolf emerges from a light and guides the Turkish army.
The wolf-headed banner erected in front of the tents of the Gokturk khagans became the symbol of the khaganate among the Turks. However, this tradition is not unique to the Göktürks and has been used by many Turkish states before and after.
The Turks attributed some sacred qualities to the wolves they lived with in the steppes, then they thought that they too were wolves in terms of their characteristics, and they compared their rulers to gray wolves.
Research conducted in almost every branch of social sciences has revealed that the wolf motif is a distinctive element specific to Turks. Wolf figure in Turks; Reflecting on epics, proverbs, idioms, plant names, place names, personal names, mythology, beliefs and beliefs, paintings and sculptures, architecture, and motifs in handicrafts, this has led to the birth, development and survival of a wolf cult until today. It is also possible to encounter Turkish motifs in recent Turkish literature. For example, in some works of Halide Edip, Kemal Tahir, Yahya Kemal, Atilla İlhan, the Wolf figure and sections from Turkish society are included.
In today’s research, 18 plant names, 19 place names, 27 personal names, 55 proverbs and idioms related to the name Wolf have been identified.
The wolf motif, which is present in Turkish societies and observed in every aspect of their lives, has almost become integrated with Turkish cultural life.
Among the Turks, who established great states, the wolf became the symbol of political domination. In Chinese annals, it is stated that Turks are descended from wolves and that the wolf is a symbol of sovereignty and bravery for the Turks. Again, in the sources, “Western Turks hang a she-wolf’s head on the top of their flags.” There is information such as: The wolf head figure was used on some flags and banners used by the Turks throughout history.
Among the Gokturks, the warriors who formed the guard unit of the kagan were called “böri”. Another name for the most important part of the historical Turkish war strategy is called the Wolf Tactic. In some Turkish states, the title of İlteber, which also means gray wolf, was given to the dynasty members at the head of the tribes.
Many tribes have animals that they consider sacred to them. But none of the relations are as historical, cultural and strong as the relationship between the Turkish Nation and the Wolf.
Turkish national team player Merih Demiral celebrated his joy by making the gray wolf sign after scoring the goal in the match against Austria. After this joy that united the entire Turkish Nation, anti-Turkish groups took action and UEFA launched an investigation against our national player.
It would be very wrong to see this as only UEFA’s own initiative. Because German Interior Minister Nancy Feaser, the Israeli media and the American-based Armenian diaspora, who could not accept this national joy of Merih Demiral, immediately took action and put UEFA under pressure. The Armenian diaspora even started a campaign to ban Merih from international competitions. This investigation and anti-Turkish rhetoric are never acceptable. Merih’s joy embraced the Turkish nation and became a strong message to Turkish culture and history.
No matter what anyone does or says, they cannot ban or make people forget the Wolf, which has such strong ties to the political, social and cultural life of the Turkish nation. History will never allow this.
Atatürk University, History Department Lecturer Assoc.Prof.Dr.Savaş Eğilmez
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