Su iyesi explained

In Turkic mythology, Su Iyesi (Tatar: Су Иясе or Su İyäse; Chuvash: Шыв Ийӗ; Sakha: Уу Иччи; literally "water master") is a water spirit. It corresponds to the nymph in Turkic cultures. It is a disembodied, incorporeal, intangible entity, but she can turn into a female creature and daughter of Yer Tanrı. Sometimes the master of water is depicted in the form of a bull.[1]

Features

When angered, it breaks dams, washes away water mills,[2] and drowns people and animals. It drags people down to her underwater dwelling to serve her as slaves. It is in Tatar[3] fairy tales the same creature as the Su Anası ("water mother"). In Turkic tales, it lives in ponds or rivers. There is no mention of a particular dwelling, and the 'half-sunken log' is unapparent. It rides on a log to travel.

Su Iyesi is sometimes associated with perilous events such as floods, storms, shipwrecks and drownings. In other Turkic folk traditions, she can be benevolent or beneficent and also cause rain.[4]

It is believed that some powerful Su Iye, such as Su Dedesi can cause sickness. A disease called Water Disease, allegedly caused by him, appears as watery bubbles in the body of human. To get rid threw salt into river or fountains.[5]

Su Ana

Su Ana ("water mother") is often mentioned as the female form of Su Iyesi. She is said to appear as a naked young woman with a fairy-like face and yellow and long hair, usually covered in black fish scales. She has a fish's tail and eyes that burn like fire. She usually rides along her river on a half-sunken log, making loud splashes. Local drownings are said to be the work of the Su Anası. She is the wife of Su Ata. She likes shores and likes to get out of the water.

In Turkic languages

Суг Ава

Suv Ona or Suw Ona

Су Әни or Су Ана or Su Ana

Su Ana

Су Ана

Шыв Анне or Шу Абай

Һыу Апай

Уу Ий̃э

Suw Ene or Suv Eje

سۇ ئانا

Su Ana

Суу Эне

Суу Эне

Суғ Ине or Суғ Иӌе

Суу Ана

Su Ana

Its name in Hungarian culture is Víz Anya and in Mongolian belief is Ус Ээж (Buryat: Уһан Эхэ; Oirat: Усн Эк). These entities have many similarities, and each name has the same meaning, "aqua mother".

Su Ata

Su Ata ("water father") is the male form of Su Iyesi. He appears as an old man with a frog-like face, greenish beard, with his body covered in algae and muck. He has webbed paws instead of hands. He usually rides along his river. Consequently, he is often dubbed Vudaş (Chuvash: Вутăш, Vutăş) by the Chuvash people. He is a river and lake spirit. When someone has drowned, people often say "Su Ata took him." He also reportedly hates people who pollute the waters. The advice on how to please him goes that one should throw a whole bread into the water to make him happy. Also, when a bride must go far away, she has to be introduced to Su Ata. He usually appears in winter.[6]

In Turkic languages

Суг Ата

Suv Ota or Suw Ota

Су Әти / Ата or Su Ata

Su Ata

Су Ата

Шыв Атте or Шу Ашшӗ

Һыу Атай

Уу Аҕа

Suw Ata or Suv Ata

سۇ ئاتا

Su Ata

Суу Ата

Суу Ада

Суғ Аба or Суғ Ада

Суу Ата

Su Ata

Its name in Hungarian culture is Víz Atya or Víz Apa and in Mongolian belief is Ус Эцэг (Buryat: Уһан Эсэгэ; Oirat: Усн эцк). These entities have many similarities, and each has the same meaning, "water father".

Similar creatures

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Yves Bonnefoy Asian Mythologies University of Chicago Press 1993 p. 333
  2. http://turkoloji.cu.edu.tr/HALKBILIM/culpan_zaripova_cetin_tatar_turkleri_mitoloji.pdf Creatures of Turkic Tatars (Tatar Türklerinde Varlıklar), Çulpan Zaripova
  3. http://tatarile.org/maglumat/%D0%BC%D3%99%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BB%D3%99/%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D1%8F%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%8B ИБНЕ ФАЗЛАН ЯЗМАЛАРЫ
  4. Yves Bonnefoy Asian Mythologies University of Chicago Press 1993 p. 333
  5. Rasilya KARİMOVA Tatar Mitolojisinde İyeler The Familier Spirits in Tatar Mythology Kocaeli Üniversitesi 2016 E-ISSN: 2149-5459 p.885
  6. Rasilya KARİMOVA Tatar Mitolojisinde İyeler The Familier Spirits in Tatar Mythology Kocaeli Üniversitesi 2016 E-ISSN: 2149-5459 p.887