Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article explores the ethno-cultural significance of toponymic legends within the Western Azerbaijani regions of Goycha and Zangezur. By examining oral traditions, folk etymologies, and the “memory of the land,” the study analyzes how geographic names serve as historical archives for the Azerbaijani population. The research highlights the duality of these legends: as both mystical narratives involving giants, heroes, and sacred springs, and as empirical evidence of long-term habitation. Special attention is given to the role of the Ashig (folk minstrel) tradition in preserving these names through centuries of migration and social change. Ultimately, the paper argues that the toponymy of Goycha and Zangezur constitutes a “spiritual map” that remains a central pillar of Azerbaijani collective identity.
Author: Tehrana Khudaverdiyeva
Institution: Nakhchivan State University
Language: English
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7148317463