Konrul

In Turkic mythology, Konrul or Kongrul / Konqrul (Koñrul, Azerbaijanese: Qonrul) is a long-lived bird that is cyclically regenerated or reborn.

In Turkish folklore, Konrul refers to a supernatural bird, often glossed as, or identified with, the Greek Phoenix or Persian Simurg (in Turkish languages Semrük[1]).

Konrul is depicted as a winged creature in the shape of a bird, gigantic enough to carry off an elephant. It appears as a peacock with the head of a dog and the claws of a lion; sometimes however also with a human face. It has an enmity towards snakes and its natural habitat is a place with plenty of water. Its feathers are said to be the colour of copper, and though it was originally described as being a Dog-Bird, later it was shown with either the head of a dog.

Different aspects of other mythologies

In Turkic culture Konrul has a twin and its name is Toghrul (Turul). In one of the folk tales, a hero rescues Konruls offspring by killing a snake that was crawling up the tree to feed upon them. As a reward, Konrul gives him three of her feathers which the hero can use to call her for help by burning them. Later the hero uses the feathers, and the Konrul carries him to a distant land. In the other tale, Konrul carries the hero out of the netherworld; here Konrul feeds its young with its teats.

Turul and Kongrul

Turul and Konrul are twin birds in Turkish mythology. They known also Buğdayık and Kumayık or Semrük and Kerkes and sometimes Züzülö and Öksökö. They roosted in Tree of Life, which stands in the middle of the world. The relationship between the Turul and Konrul is extremely close.

Similarities with Anka

Anka also spelled Ankha, also known as Angha (Persian: عنقا), is a benevolent, mythical flying creature and common figure in Middle East cultures. The figure can be found in all periods of Greater Iranian art and literature, and is evident also in the iconography of medieval Armenia,[2] the Byzantine empire,[3] and other regions that were within the sphere of Persian cultural influence. The mythical bird is also found in the mythology of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia and is called Semrug, Semurg, Samran and Samruk.[1][4] Simurgh is shortened to "Sīmīr" in the Kurdish language.[5]

In Azeri folklore

Konrul also goes by the name of Zumrud (emerald). It was an ancient tale about Malik Mammad, the son of one of the wealthiest kings of Azerbaijan. That king had a big garden. In the center of this garden is a magical apple tree which yields apples every day. One ugly giant called Div decides to steal all the apples every night. The king sends Malik Mammad and his elder brothers fight the giant. In the middle of this tale Malik Mammad saves Zumrud's babies from a dragon. Zumrud takes pleasure of Malik Mammad and decides to help him. When Malik Mammad wants to pass from The Dark world into the Light world Zumrud asks him to provide 40 half carcasses of meat and 40 wineskin filled with water. When Zumrud puts water on its left wing and meat on its right wing Malik Mammad is able to enter the Light world.

References

  1. 1 2 Juan Eduardo Cirlot, A Dictionary of Symbols, Courier Dover Publications, 2002, p.253
  2. ↑ P Donabedian and J. M. Thierry, Armenian Art, New York, 1989, p. 488.
  3. ↑ Thierry, N. and M., Nouvelles églises rupestres de Cappadoce, Paris, 1963, p. 84-85.
  4. ↑ Der Artikel in the Encyclopedia of Bashkortostan
  5. ↑ Hanns-Peter Schmidt, Encyclopedia Iranica - "Simorgh".

See also

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