FIRE IN TURKISH CULTURE: A BRIEF EVALUATION ON THE AXIS OF PROVERBS, BEHAVIOURS AND BELIEFS

Abstract

The beliefs of the ancient Turks also shaped their daily lives. Their perspectives on the universe also affected their world model, organization, family structures, mental states, attitudes and behaviors, and as a result of this effect, a unique Turkish culture was formed. Turks saw the universe in three stages. Accordingly, they believed and respected all living and non-living beings in the sky, earth and underground that they also had souls of their own. As a result of this belief, cosmological, cosmogonic and eschatological myths have emerged. The fire spirit, studied within the framework of this belief that affects the daily lives of Turks, is one of the spirits of the earth and also has a cosmic connection. It is aimed to evaluate the attitudes, behaviors, words and traditions that have changed and transformed with the effect of the fire cult from the ancient Turks. It is also aimed to examine the effect of fire, which is considered sacred in the Turks, on them. Keywords: Fire cult, cosmology, cosmogony, yer-sub (earth), Pole star