Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Milli Folklor, cilt.2020, sa.126, ss.27-39, 2020 (AHCI)
© 2020, Milli Folklor Dergisi. All rights reserved.Family is the cornerstone of a nation/society. The main element of the family is mother. Mother means having children. In a biological context, motherhood is the feature of “being a mother”. However, motherhood has sociological and psychological characteristics along with biological features. Motherhood, which is ac-cepted as sacred by the societies, is an important phenomenon in terms of having a fertility feature within the framework of these qualifications as well as maintaining the descendants from generation to generation. Motherhood is the greatest reward that God has bestowed on women. Because they have difficult obligations. Motherhood includes some functions such as fertility (continuation of the generation/lineage), protection/advocacy, nurturing (milk right), guidance, educator/teaching and embassy/mediation. Sociological, psychological and biological functions have given women an important role and function in the eyes of society. The role and function attributed to motherhood is also addressed in the same or similar way in Turkish myths. Even in myths, many feminine beings have been attributed motherhood and they are cited as at mother archetypes “mother”. Within the framework of these adjectives and qualifications, the place of motherhood in the continuation of the lineage has been emphasized. In addition, the quality of motherhood in protection, its importance in terms of nutrition, the ability to be a guide and a mediator are emphasized with examples. Accordingly, motherhood is a privilege for women in terms of continuity of the generation and protection of the lineage. This privilege was also highlighted in Turkish myths. Along with assets such as “Ak/White Mother”, Umay, and Fire (Od) Mother, some animals and nature elements such as trees, soil/land have been given motherhood. They were the source of the birth event. Along with the fertility function of motherhood, there is an obligation to feed the child within the framework of the feeding (milk right) function. In the Turkish myths, some feminine spirits, animals and natural elements that had the quality of motherhood fed the heroes. They mothered them. Among the functions of motherhood is “protection and advocacy”. Because this function is instinctive like other qualities. In Turkish epics and myths, the mother is always a “guardian-watcher”. Motherhood is an important responsibility in terms of guidance, education and teaching function. In this context, it is seen in the Turkish epics and myths that especially the girls imitate their mothers. However, the mother is a “wise” woman with various advices and advice. “Ak/White Mother”, which inspires creation to Ülgen/Kayra Han, is the best example in this regard. Motherhood is a mediator between father and child or in the family and is the messenger/representative of the family. In Turkish epics, the mother corrects between father and son. She is an intermediary in meeting all kinds of requests. However, it has been observed that the reflection of motherhood functions in Turkish myths is not directly and comparatively subject. In addition, there are many examples of the phenomenon of motherhood in myths. Therefore, selection and restriction of the sample was mandatory in the article. With this article, the place of motherhood in Turkish culture and its reflection in Turkish myths can be better understood. In addition, it is aimed to make a scientific contribution to the field with the article. As a result, the article was prepared by way of sampling and comparison. In the article, the reflection of maternal functions as a sociocultural phenomenon in Turkish mythology is discussed within the framework of examples.