1. The Persianization of Koroglu: Banditry and Royalty in Three Versions of the Koroglu Destan
- Author
-
Wilks, Judith M.
- Subjects
Turkmen -- Analysis ,Folklore -- History -- Analysis ,Literature -- History -- Analysis ,Persian literature -- Criticism and interpretation -- Analysis ,Emperors -- Portrayals -- Analysis ,Folk literature -- History -- Analysis ,Heroes -- Portrayals -- Analysis ,Epic literature -- Analysis ,Outlaws -- Portrayals -- Analysis ,Anthropology/archeology/folklore ,Ethnic, cultural, racial issues/studies ,Criticism and interpretation ,Analysis ,History ,Portrayals - Abstract
The story of Koroglu, one of the most widespread of the Turkic destans, is shared not only by nearly all Turkic peoples, but also by some Iranian and other non-Turkic neighboring communities. In general the versions can be separated into two major groups, the western and the eastern, with the Caspian Sea as an approximate boundary between them. It is generally agreed that the earliest versions are all from the south Caucasus, especially Azerbaijan, and that the destan traveled mainly eastward from there. The earliest dated recorded version, the Kurogli-nama, was written in Persian in the vicinity of Tabriz in the 1840s at the request of Alexander Chodzko, a Polish scholar and diplomat. The manuscript of this Azerbaijani version is one of three versions that are discussed in this paper, the other two being a Turkmen version and a Tajik version. In tracing the transformation of Koroglu's occupation from robber in the western versions to ruler in the eastern versions, it is suggested that there has been consider able influence from the Persian epic tradition. Keywords: Koroglu--folk epic--Turkish legend--Persian epic--social banditry, ********** THE STORY OF KOROGLU is one of the most widespread of the Turkic destans. (1) It is shared not only by nearly all Turkic peoples, but also by some [...]
- Published
- 2001