“Basmak” Kökenine Dayanan Mitik Varlıklar ve Kafkaslardan Bir Uyku İblisi: “Bast
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The contemporary world has inherited some evil spirits from mythical ideas andbeliefs. Sleep demons are among the evil spirits that belong to this group and theyhave their counterparts in all cultures of the world. They are common products ofthe mythical age and the human mind. In this context, Turkish culture also has thesedemons. Bastırık, a sleep demon of the Caucasus, constitutes the central topic ofthis paper. Bastırık reflects the name, form and functions of Karakura, Karabasanor Albastı, which are believed everywhere in Anatolia without exception. However,it is not given much space in the sources. This study aims to reveal the culturalinteraction by identifying other evil spirits and demons with the same or similarnames based on the verb “to pressure (Turkish verb basmak)” in this entity’sname. Tablets, spell texts, incantations, prayers, and frescoes from a variety ofcultures that have been preserved to the present day provide an opportunity for thiscomparison. The analysis of the materials revealed that “oppressing, crushing” isa common motif in sleep demons, and Bastırık belongs to the ring of mythologicalcreatures rooted in “bas- (to pressure)”, which is reflected in Turkish folklore.Research has shown that through direct or indirect interaction in prehistoric timesalong with intracultural diversifications, a mythological creature belonging to theTurkish culture has been passed on to other cultures by preserving the root of “bas-(to pressure)”.
Author: Ahmet Tacetdin Hallaç
Institution: Gazi University
Language: Turkish
Subfield: Museology
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $53
OpenAlex ID: W4390843468