A Spear and a Lance of the Late Medieval Nomads of the Great Steppe (Based on the Materials on a Heroic Epic of the Kazakhs of Nogai Cycle)
| Author(s) | Agatay, Оtkirbay M. en Агатай, Уткирбай Мылтыкбайулы |
|---|---|
| Title | A Spear and a Lance of the Late Medieval Nomads of the Great Steppe (Based on the Materials on a Heroic Epic of the Kazakhs of Nogai Cycle) |
| Alternative Title | Копья и пики позднесредневековых кочевников Великой Степи (по материалам героического эпоса казахов ногайлинский цикл) |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Language | rus |
| Number of Pages | 10 |
| Location | Kazakhstan |
| Keywords | oral tradition combat weapon epic others |
| Relevance to ICH Safeguarding | identification transmission promotion awareness raising |
| ICH Genre | oral tradition others ICH transmission |
| Description | Based on a detailed analysis of previously unpublished and untranslated materials from the heroic epic of the Kazakhs of the Nogai cycle, along with evidentiary (including archaeological) and written sources, an attempt was made to interpret the name of an incisive long-flagpole weapon used by Turkic warriors in the western part of the Great Steppe during the late Medieval and early Modern periods. In particular, certain aspects of the use of spears and lances by nomads, including the sequence of their deployment and other details, were recorded. Comparisons between descriptions of armaments in the heroic epic and genuine examples of close-combat and ram-attack weapons from archaeological sites and museum collections revealed a high degree of correlation between folklore and evidentiary sources. Typically, this pertains to certain decorative elements. For example, in the case of the weapon of Nogai batyr Karasay, a 'silver spear' is mentioned in the epic, while Tana batyr crafted 'a flagpole from elm' for his spear. An analysis of spears and lances used across Kazakhstan and neighboring regions — preserved in museum collections and recovered from archaeological expeditions in previous years — confirms the presence of silver and elm elements. |
| Book/Journal Title | Отан Тарихы(History of Motherland) |
| Publisher | Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology |
| Place of Publication | Almaty, Kazakhstan |
| Date of Publication | 2021 |
| Issue | 4 (96) |
| Pages | 36-45 |
| Access URL | https://otan.history.iie.kz/main/issue/view/33 |
| ISSN | 1814-6961 |
| Usage | copyright cleared |
| Academic Field | Epic tradition Combat weapon |
| Community/Ethnic Group | Kazakhstan |
| Contributor | Kazakhstan National Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage |
| Active Contribution | Kazakhstan, FY 2024 |
| Data Collection Project | |