Funeral Rituals of the Ancient Turks

Introduction

The funeral rituals of ancient Turkic peoples reveal their conception of death and the afterlife. These complex practices aimed to ensure the deceased's passage to the spirit world and maintain harmony between the living and the dead.

Preparation of the Body

The deceased was prepared with great care. The body was washed and dressed in their finest clothes. For important figures, special funeral garments were made, often adorned with protective symbols.

The deceased's eyes were closed and the mouth sometimes sealed to prevent evil spirits from entering the body.

Funeral Offerings

Ancient Turks believed the deceased would need their possessions in the other world. Horses, weapons, jewelry, and food accompanied the body. For khagans, sacrifices of horses and sometimes servants were performed.

These offerings varied according to the deceased's social status. A warrior took his weapons and horse, while a woman was accompanied by her jewelry and household utensils.

The Kurgans

Turkic tombs often took the form of kurgans, earthen and stone tumuli. These structures could reach impressive dimensions for high-ranking individuals.

Inside, a burial chamber was arranged, often oriented according to cosmological principles. The entrance generally faced east, toward the rising sun.

The Balbal

A distinctive practice was the erection of balbal, stone stelae aligned near the tomb. These stones represented enemies defeated by the deceased in combat. The more valiant a warrior had been, the more numerous his balbal.

Some stelae featured carved human representations showing the deceased himself with his attributes of power.

The Ceremonies

Mourning lasted several days and involved ritual lamentations. Close relatives scarified their faces and cut their hair as signs of grief. Funeral songs were sung, recalling the deceased's exploits.

A funeral feast (yuğ) gathered the community. Horse races and competitions could be organized in honor of the deceased.

The Journey to the Afterlife

Turks believed the deceased's soul had to traverse a difficult journey to reach Erlik's underworld or Tengri's sky. The shaman played a crucial role in guiding the soul on this journey.

Rituals were performed regularly after burial to help the soul and prevent it from returning to trouble the living.