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Turks had a massive impact on much of Europe. Because of their nomadic tribal lifestyle, the ancient Turks came into contact with a great many different cultures and beliefs.
Because they’re not originally from Europe, Turkish gods and mythological creatures are very distinct from the myths around them. Still, they’ve influenced and been influenced by the cultures around them.
Turkish godsWhile modern Turkey’s neighbours, Greece, had complicated god-myths filled with drama and small details, Turkish gods are relatively simple and straightforward. As they were nomadic, the Turks also seldom built statues and temples to their gods, so many deities and stories have been lost to time and conquests.
The nomadic Turkish tribes adapted and changed myths according to their own beliefs and social structures, so it’s uncommon to find a single fixed god-myth.
TengriTengri, the great sky god, is the most important Turkish deity. While most of the Turkish peoples’ history is polytheistic, there have been whole centuries where Tengriism has stood as a monotheistic religion.
Tengri, Kök Tengri, or Gok Tengri, is the first primordial deity, and the creator god. We don’t know what he looks like, only that he is all-powerful and fair. In later ideas of the god, no doubt influenced by more modern ideologies, he is also considered the force of good, to Erlik’s evil.
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