Information Package / Course Catalogue
Mythology III
Course Code: REH339
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: First Cycle (Bachelor's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 0
Credit: 2
Lab: 0
ECTS: 3
Objectives of the Course

It is aimed to enable students to associate the knowledge with such diciplines as archaeology, history and art history by providing them information about the religious cults. In addition to this main purpose, students are also expected to analize the symbols and narratives in Turkish mythology by comparing them with similar examples in the Middle East and Near East geography

Course Content

Within he scope of this course, Oghuz Khan and Ergenekon, and Dede Qorqut epics will be examined by giving information about Shamanism, the Gods ans Spirits in this belief system, Tengrisim, myths of creation and descent, in the Turks.

Name of Lecturer(s)
Assoc. Prof. Vedat ACAR
Learning Outcomes
1.He/she knows the similarities and differences among myths, epic annd fairy tales
2.He/she learns about Shamanism,one of the important building blocks of the Turkish belief system
3.He/ she learns about creation in Turkish mythology
4.He/ she learns the Gods/ Sprits associated with the sky in Turkish mythology
5.He/she recognizes the earth-water Gods/Sprits in Turkish mythology
6.He/ she knows the Spirits/ Gods of the underworld in Turkish mythology
7.He/ she learns about the origin legends in Turkish mythology
8.He/ she understands the importance of fire, wood, iron and cave elements in Turkish mythology
9.He/ she learns important myths and epics in Turkish mythology
Recommended or Required Reading
1.Bayat, F. (2009). Mitolojik Zıtlık Paradigmasında Baba-Oğul Mücadelesi, Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2/6, 63-70.
2.Çoruhlu, Y. (2017). Türk Mitolojisinin Ana Hatları, Kabalcı Yayınları.
3.Ergin, M. Dede Korkut Kitabı. Milli Eğitim Basımevi.
4.Çakmak, T.F. (Edt.), Turist Rehberleri İçin Genel Mitoloji, Detay Yayıncıık, Ankara, 2021
5.Mömin, S. (2013). Şamanizm ve Günümüzdeki Kalıntıları: Uygur Toplumundaki Tabular Üzerine, Ulakbilge, 1 (1), 79-89.
6.Ögel, B. (2014). Türk Mitolojisi I-II Cilt, Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları: Ankara.
7.Roux, J.P. (2017). Eski Türk Mitolojisi, Bilge Su Yayınları: Ankara.
8.Turan, M. Türk Destanları: Açıköğretim Fakültesi Anadolu Üniversitesi Yayınları.: Eskişehir.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical
Information will be given about the similarities and differences among the myths, epics and fairy tales.
Week 2 - Theoretical
Information will be given about shamanism in the historical process, the divisions of the universe according to the shamanism, and the cults (fire, hearth) in this belief system
Week 3 - Theoretical
Information will be given about who the shaman is, what his duties are and how those duties are given, the legends about the first shaman, the shaman’s journey to the sky and underground, and what kind of rituals were performed when the shaman died
Week 4 - Theoretical
By mentioning shaman clothes and the symbols depicted on these dresses and shamanic drums, information will be given about the shamanic ceremonies and prayers (the rite of taking the soul of the dead body to the underworld
Week 5 - Theoretical
By making a general evaluation about the shamanist gods and spirits, The belief in Tengri in Turks, the wolf the symbol of the Tengri will be discussed by comparing other Near Eastern and Middle Eastern mythologies
Week 6 - Theoretical
Information will be given about the god and spirits (Ulgen, Yayik, Suyla, Karlık, Utkuucı) associated with the sky in shamanic belief
Week 7 - Theoretical
Information will be given about the god and spirits (Yo-Kan, Talay-Kan, Umay, Erlik, Al-Bastı, Kara Koncolos, Kara Kura) associated with the earth and the underground in shamanic belief.
Week 8 - Theoretical
By mentioning the subject of creation in Altays, Expelling from the paradise in Turkish mythology will be discussed in comparison with the holy writings (The Old Testament, The Koran). In addition to this, expelling Erlik from the skies and then the God’s appointng the spirits of Mangdaşire, Şal yime and Maytere to order the World will be mentioned.
Week 9 - Theoretical
By giving information about the depictions of fish, turtles and oxen that carry the World in Turkish mythology, descent of the Wusun, Kao-chis and Gokturks will be mentioned
Week 10 - Theoretical
By discussing the derivation from a hailstone falling from the sky, derivation from a light descending from the sky, derivation from tree bark, information will be given about the concept of Ancestor cave in Turks.
Week 11 - Theoretical
By giving information about the Ergenekon epic, the similarities and differences between the epic in question and the gate built by Allexander the Great, and the stories about the prophet Zulkarneyn mentioned in the Surah Al-Kahf (Gog and Magog) will be discussed
Week 12 - Theoretical
Information will be given about the epic of Oguz Kagan (his birth, his killing the Rhinoceros, his marrying the daughter of sky, his marrying the daughter of the land, the raids of Oguz, dividing up his country among his sons)
Week 13 - Theoretical
By giving information about the father-son conflict (The Great Hun Emperor Mete, Oidipous, Oguz Kagan) in the Middle East and Near East geography, the importance of Dede Qorqut in Turkish mythology will be mentioned
Week 14 - Theoretical
The main stories of Dede Qorqut (Deli Dumrul the son of Duha Koca, Basat and Tepegoz, Bamsı Beyrek the son of Pay Püre, Bogaç the son of Dirse Han) will be examined by comparing with similar Greek myths (Admetos-Alkestis, Odysseus-Polyphemos, Odysseus-Penelope)
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%40
Final Examination1%60
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142256
Midterm Examination1819
Final Examination19110
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)75
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
PÇ-8
PÇ-9
PÇ-10
PÇ-11
PÇ-12
PÇ-13
PÇ-14
PÇ-15
PÇ-16
OÇ-1
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-2
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-3
3
2
5
3
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-4
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-5
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-6
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-7
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-8
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
OÇ-9
3
2
5
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026