Is it just a plain old dragon like everywhere else? Are there any special Turkish legends involving ejderha? Is it true what I read on Wikipedia about the flame coming out of the tail and ejderha being legless like a serpent, not like most depictions of a dragon?
2007-11-10 21:53:53 · 9 answers · asked by The Babe is Armed! 6 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Turkey
The 'Ejderha' in Turkish mythology is actually an extention of the Chinese, Far and Middle Eastern Dragon mythologies.
The mention of Dragons go back to 1000 years BC and are mentioned in Sumerian tablets which describe the creation myths and Babylonian wars.
The word "Ejderha" is believed to be based on Ajhi-Dahaka, which is the 'monster of evil and torture in the ancient Indian- Persian belief system.
Unlike the Europian Dragons, The 'ejderha's of the Eastern world are always described as serpents and mostly with no wings. They were the controller of rain and Thunder with the pearl or quartz crystal ball which they hold in their right paw.
In the Turkish mytology- please think about the ancient Turkish culture of Middle Asia- the dragons were described as multi headed serpents , the number of the heads changing from 3 to 7. The name " buke" which means 7 headed Dragon is still used as a male name in Yakutsk Turks of middle Asia. Therefore, "Ejder", the short form of Ejderha is used, though not very commonly, as a male name in Turkey.
Again in the old Turkish mytology, the Dragons were accepted as the bearers of the world and are related to Astrology with the cults of water- soil and sky relations. They were believed to be having types such as the darkness dragons, sky dragons, red dragons, yellow dragons and tree dragons.
Dragons are also accepted as a symbol in the ancient Turkish Calender of 12 animals.
The main difference of the Eastern Dragons and the western ones is that in the east they were accepted as the symbols of strength, wisdom and durability whereas in the West, they symbolize the evil.
Actually the Eastern Dragons are being based on Komodo Dragons of Indonesia nowadays-I know , I watch too much National Geographic - but what amuses me is the fact that they are mentioned in Mayan, Celtic, Japanese, Chinese, Middle Eastern , middle Asian and Europian cultures and myths all almost at the same period of time..
2007-11-11 00:27:05 · answer #1 · answered by Ipek K 7 · 8⤊ 5⤋
ejderha=dragon
The word is definitely Persian, since there are no 'Turkish' words incorporating the letter J. As for dragons being a legend, yes, there are legends about dragons in almost every culture. Celtic, Persian, Turkish, Chinese, Scandinavian etc.
I dont know if they blew fire out of their mouths or noses, because I have never seen one.
2007-11-11 15:38:02 · answer #2 · answered by anlarm 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Ethymologist Sevan NiÅanyan confirms that the word ejderha comes from Persian origins.
That's no surprise. The Ottoman court was very proficient in incorporating Arabic and Farsi into Turkish to create a harder and more intricate literature language, which the lay public couldn't learn and use.
The contemporary Turkish language uses many many words taken from all the peoples Ottomans ruled. Only 15% of the language is pure Asian Turkish. Our language reflects our genes and colours.
2007-11-11 10:14:59 · answer #3 · answered by Totally Blunt 7 · 7⤊ 4⤋
yeah, a simple plain ordinary dragon:-))))))
Well, as far as i know he has legs and fire is coming from the mouth.
Edit:
By the way i just checked something right now. In Turkish "ejder" means "evren" which means "world" because in the old old old times in Turkish culture they believed that something was turning the world.
2007-11-11 16:35:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
You asked your question in wrong place babe! lol.
But no matter, since there isn't Iran category on Y/A!!!
Ejderha or (Ajdarha) is an old Persian word and there are many stories about it in old Persian (Iranian) literature and ancient Persian mythologies and legends (specially in Shahnameh - by Hakim Abolghasem Ferdosi). It is considered a special dragon (better to say a huge, long and thick snake ) which can blow fire and is a symbol for "bad" aims.
For example the "champion" of Shahname, Rostahm (also Rostam) has to fight with Ajdarha in one of his "haft-khan"s. (haft = 7, khan = stage). He had 7 stages of fight with "bad" symbols and enemies and one is the Ajdarha.
Since the word Ajdarha exists in old Persian sources (before immigration of Turkic people from Asia minor to Iranian plateau and Anatolia), so it is Persian for sure. It has possibly gone into Turkish and changed to "ejderha" due to Turkish pronunciation rules. And as much as our Turkish friends answered, it isn't a legend.
Different languages always affect each other, there also many Turkish words in Farsi.
ÙÙÙADD:
A painting of Ajdarha :
http://mobile.teyf.ir/paper/22/yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.jpg
EDIT:
Some explanations:
Turkish guys, you misunderstand me. I didn't say the dragon is Persian, yes it exists in many eastern and western cultures and legends.
What I said was about the WORD "Ejderha" that I said it is possibly taken from the Persian word "Ajdarha". And I explained what this is in Persian legends.
The word not the phenomenon :)
2007-11-11 07:31:07 · answer #5 · answered by ՎԱՀԷ 4 · 7⤊ 6⤋
Yes it's "ejderha" just a plain dragon.However, as far as I know, the flame comes outta it's mouth not out of the tail
2007-11-11 06:14:15 · answer #6 · answered by ★HigHTƹcH★ 7 · 3⤊ 4⤋
It means just an ordinary dragon...Whose flame comes out of its mounth.
2007-11-11 06:10:10 · answer #7 · answered by Irmak 7 · 6⤊ 3⤋
It's not only in Persian legend like "Iranian-armenian" answerer told, it's a comman figure in many cultures. But like there are many words in Turkish adopted from Farsi,that word also adopted(probably, i don't know for sure)
2007-11-11 09:42:28 · answer #8 · answered by Leprechaun 6 · 4⤊ 6⤋
very interesting thanks for asking
2007-11-11 08:54:59 · answer #9 · answered by DejaVu 4 · 5⤊ 5⤋