RAS History & PhilologyЭтнографическое обозрение Ethno review

  • ISSN (Print) 0869-5415
  • ISSN (Online) 3034-6274

On the Issue of Clergy among the Ancient Turks of Central Asia [K voprosu o sushchestvovanii sluzhitelei kul’ta u drevnikh tiurkov Tsentral’noi Azii]

PII
S0869-54150000392-4-1
DOI
10.7868/S50000392-4-1
Publication type
Article
Status
Published
Authors
Volume/ Edition
Volume / Issue 3
Pages
76-96
Abstract
The article examines a wide range of historical data on ministers of religion among the ancient Turks of Central Asia, and is drawn on the comprehensive analysis of both written and archaeological sources. Even though there are a variety of evidences and records on spellcasters, soothsayers, diviners, healers, and sorcerers affecting the weather among the ancient Turks of the 6th-9th centuries, it is not possible to say for certain whether that information is related to different categories of the population or a particular social group that specialized in performing sacred acts. Thus, scholars have no sufficient grounds to assert that there existed a defined social group of clergy among the ancient Turks. It is quite possible that sacred acts among the nomads were commonly carried out by heads of tribes or elders who were repeatedly mentioned in written sources. This combination of power and certain sacred functions was typical of supreme rulers among the ancient Turks of Central Asia.
Keywords
Central Asia, ancient Turks, ministers of religion, clergy, shamanism, written sources, archaeological materials, social group
Date of publication
12.12.2025
Year of publication
2025
Number of purchasers
4
Views
735

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