The Book of Dede Korkut

The Book of Dede Korkut

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Oral tradition: 9th-10th century CEEarliest written versions: late 13th century – 14th century CE The Book of Dede Korkut Introduction commissioned.         Name of...
Alpamish

Alpamish

Central Asia earliest written version in 14th/15th century CE; continues to be performed orally     Anonymous, Alpamish The epic of Alpamish is the main heroic epic of the Uzbeks, but is also found in the oral tradition of other ethnic groups speaking Turkic...
Epic of Köroghlu

Epic of Köroghlu

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan Transcribed: c. 18th century CE     Anonymous, The Epic of Köroğlu     Benden selam olsun Bolu Beyi’neÇıkıp şu dağlara yaslanmalıdırOk vızıltısı, kalkan sesindenDağlar seda...
Manas

Manas

Kyrgyzstan A fragment (in Persian) is dated to the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century, but an earlier version may have existed; the first written version of the epic is from the mid-19th century. Anonymous, Manas “…for us, Kirgiz, the dastan remains a...
Lakhnavi, The Adventures of Amir Hamza

Lakhnavi, The Adventures of Amir Hamza

Arabia, Persia, and the Subcontinent Oral tradition dating back to the 7th century Illustrated manuscript commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, c. 1562Urdu version by Ghalib Lakhnavi, 1855Expanded by Abdullah Bilgirami, 1871    Ghalib Lakhnavi The Adventures of...