Creatures
Genuine
- Äbädä – Spirit of forest. It is an innocent spirit in Tatar mythology, that looks like an old woman. Äbädä also is represented in mythologies of Siberian peoples. He protects the birds, trees, and animals of the forest.
- Alara – A famous water fairy (peri) from Lake Baikal in Central Asia who appears in the records and folklore of several Turkic peoples. She appears to those who need her to fix broken hearts and has powers similar to those of Cupid.
- Al Basty – Female daemon spirit. She is an ancient female spirit, the personification of guilt, found in folklore throughout the Caucasus mountains, with origins going as far back as Sumerian mythology.
- Archura – Forest monster. Archura usually appears as a man, but he is able to change his size from that of a blade of grass to a very tall tree. He protects the animals and birds in the forest.
- Arbogha – A creature like bull. Arboghas are half-man, half bull; having the torso of a man extending where the neck of a bull should be. They were said to be wild, savage, and lustful.
- Ardow (su iyesi) – Spirit of water. Ardows are spirits of human souls that died drowning, residing in the element of their own demise. They are responsible for sucking people into swamps and lakes as well as killing the animals standing near the still waters.
- Azmych – Road spirit. He is an evil-spirit that causes disorientation and leads a person aimlessly around and round. The term also refers to lose one's way.
- Basty – Spirit of nightmares. Basty is best known for its shapeshifting abilities and it is an evil spirit or goblin in Turkic folklore which rides on people's chests while they sleep, bringing on bad dreams (or "nightmares").
- Bichura – A household spirit in Tatar / Turkic folklore. Traditionally, every house is said to have a Bichura. It has also been said that Bichura can take on the appearance of cats or dogs. It wears red dresses.
- Chak – A folk devil. He was specifically busy corrupting peasants. While sometimes shown in any rustic setting, he was usually pictured standing on or near a willow tree at the edge of a swamp.
- Chesma iyesi – cat-shaped spirit that lives in wells or fountains and tempts youths to drowning.
- Çor – A jinn-like creature, responsible for mental disorders.
- Chorabash - leader of jinn
- Elbis – a spirit of war and envy. Sometimes confused with Iblis.
- Erbörü – A creature similar to a Werewolf. It is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction (e.g. via a bite or scratch from another werewolf).
- Erbüke – A creature like Shahmaran. An Erbüke is often depicted as a wise and benign man with the features of a man above the waist and those of a serpent below the waist. He is held to be king of the snakes.
- Hortdan or Hortlak – A monster, who goes out from graves. The Hortdans are creatures of Azerbaijani mythology, as a representation of evil spirits, the spirits of the dead.
- Irshi – A fairy-like spirit. She is generally described as a beautiful girl) appearance and having magical powers. Although they are often depicted as young, sometimes winged, tall, radiant, angelic spirits.
- İye – A spirit assigned to a specific element, animal, lineage or place.
- Khyrtyq – A female swamp demon. In Turkic mythology she is known for being malicious and dangerous. She was said to live in thickets near rivers, streams and lakes.
- Kormos – ghost of the deceased
- Korbolko – a firebird who brought fire to earth and taught the people to burn the fire.[8][9]
- Mhachkay – Akin of vampire. It is a creature a bit similar to vampire in Turkic (and especially Tatar) folklore. People who were born with two hearts and two souls were believed to be Mhachkay.
- Mu shuvuu – soul of a girl which turned into a bird-like creature.
- Neme – A spiritual being. They are mythical creatures originated in Turkic folklore. Nemes are elves very similar to other ones but they keep watch over forests, mountains, caves and underground.
- Orek – Animated corpse like zombi. In Turkic folklore it is an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft.
- Sazakan – a dragon, hawk, falcon, or fiery dwarf who turns himself into a whirlwind.[10]
- Shurala – Forest daemon. According to legends, Şüräle lives in forests. He has long fingers, a horn on its forehead, and a woolly body. He lures victims to a thicket and tickles them to death.
- Susulu – Mermaid in Turkic mythologies. She is a legendary aquatic creature with the upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. She is the daughter of the Sea King.
- Tepegöz – a cyclops-like creature with only one eye on his forehead.[11]
- Ubir – A monster like vampire. It is a mythological or folkloric being in Turkic mythology who subsist by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures, regardless of whether it is undead person or being.
- Uylak – A witch or spirit, that infested with people. An Uylak can turn into any animal or any object. He is capable of shapeshifting into a horse, a moth, or a wolf. He is also resistant to Archura's enchantments.
- Yaryond – A creature like Centaurus. The centaurs are half-man, half horse; having the torso of a man extending where the neck of a horse should be. They were said to be wild, savage, and lustful.
- Yina'mna'ut and Yina'mtilan - the spirits of fogs and mists.[12][13]
- Yuxa – Queen of serpents. According to popular beliefs, every 100-year-old snake is transformed into Yuxa. In fairy tales, Yuxa is described as a beautiful damsel who would marry men in order to beget offspring.
- Zilant – Serpent-like dragon. Since 1730, it has been the official symbol of Kazan. This winged snake is mentioned in legends about the foundation of Kazan. Zilant should be distinguished from Aq Yılan (White Snake), which is the king of snakes.
Foreign
- Az – Demon of Greed (or Lust), mentioned in Turk Manichaen sources.[14]
- Azāzīl – a being mentioned in some Turkish Sufi texts who was once the executioner of God, but fell from grace when he refused to bow before mankind. Similar to Satan.[15]
- Cin – Turkish equivalent of the Islamic jinn.
- Dervish – someone, who is devoted to the path of God. He is a source of wisdom and miracles are often attributed to him.
- Dev – An ogre or giant; often with magical abilities and enemy of folk-heroes. Inhabits the underworld. Often confused with Ifrit.
- Karakoncolos – A malevolent creature akin to a bogeyman from Southeast European and indigenous Anatolian folklore. They appear on the first ten days of 'the dreadful cold' (from 25 December to 6 January during which time the sun ceases its seasonal movement), when they stand on murky corners, and ask seemingly ordinary questions to passers-by.
- Hizir – an angel or prophet aiding those in distress.
- İn – a demon with features similar to that of jinn. Mostly appears in combination with the jinn, but might have a genuine Turkic origin.
- Iblis – The devil, or generally a creature, which rebels against God. Sometimes confused with Elbis.
- Ifrit – Inhabitant of the underworld. Evil spirit.[16] In modern Turkish, it is a term to refer to underworld spirits in general.[17]
- Melek – an angel, genderless spirit in the service of God.
- Peri – An intangible entity. Fairy. Sometimes they are described as agents of evil; later, they are benevolent. They are exquisite, winged, fairy-like creatures ranking between angels and evil spirits. They sometimes visit the realm of mortals.
- Simnu – Uighur equivalent of Manichaean Ahriman or Prince of Darkness.[18]
- Şeytan – evil spirits or demons, envious of mankind, which can possess humans.[19] Originally an epithet for Ahriman, it later became a general term for evil spirits.[20]
- Zebani – a demonic creature at disposal of Erlik, living in the underworld with the spirits of the damned.[21] According to the Yörüks of Antalya, they cause thunder during their battle against the heavenly forces.[22]
