Kazakh Myths. From the Demon Albasty and Peri to Aydakhar and Shaman Korkut

This book is a collected mosaic of the worldview as seen by the nomadic peoples of Kazakhstan: from the overall structure of the universe to unique descriptions of demons, spirits of the household, and guardians of domestic animals.

You will immerse... yourself in a world where the creator god Tengri creates the earth and the first humans, and the goddess Umai protects children and mothers, where animals and birds carry the traces of ancient curses, harmful creatures lie in wait for careless travelers, and shamans engage in battle with malevolent spirits.

The narrative moves from broader themes that define the mythological picture of the world to specifics: from the creation and structure of the Universe to the world of animals, birds, their special traits, and behaviors. Special attention is paid to the representations of characters in lower mythology—a belief system concerning spirits, demons, and their deeds in relation to humans. You will also learn where in the names of mountains and other natural objects the "fragments" of mythological plots are hidden and how to become a folklorist-collector for a time by traveling to another city or going on a tourist hike.

When reading, it should be noted that this is not an academic publication. Many folklore texts are presented in the author's free retelling, but curious readers will find references to the original texts in the notes.