Türklerde At Kurbanı ve Dede Korkut taki İzleri

Abstract

Horse, considered as one of the essentials of nomad life, has had a unique role in history of Turkish culture. We have noted that horses have taken very important place in almost every sphere of life beside the fact that it is an useful instrument utilized during wars in order to gain the upper hand against the enemies. The most favorite animal has been horse in the nomad type of life in terms of its burden capacity, flesh and milk and supply of food. Beside it is known that horses have a mystic meaning in the life of Turks. As a necessity of old Turkish belief, horses have came first to be sacrificed for the creator. It is known that there has been a lot of criterion and ritual for the sacrificed horse such as its gender and color. Another ancient tradition practiced since the very early era of Turks is to cut the horse of the dead man and distribute it to the relatives. It is understood that it has not been easy to give up the tradition of horse sacrifice and distrib