MAIASP. 2025. No. 19 R. Darmenov (Astana, Kazakhstan), Z. Sultanzhanov (Astana, Kazakhstan), S. Karzhaubayeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan), A. Nazarov (Almaty, Kazakhstan) MYTHOLOGICAL ARCHETYPES OF THE EASTERN ARAL SEA REGION: MATERIALS FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF JANKENT The article describes archaeological finds from the settlement of Jankent and other sites in the Aral Sea region, reflecting the religious beliefs of the Oghuz tribes from the 8th to the 11th cc. Two main layers are identified: pre-Islamic cults with remnants of archaic beliefs (phallic symbols, the image of the “Master of Animals”) and evidence of Islamization (Kufic inscriptions, Islamic symbolism). The study examines anthropomorphic and zoomorphic images linked to Indo-European and Turkic mythological traditions, as well as their transformation under the influence of Islam. Special attention is given to the syncretism of beliefs, combining local, Iranian-Indian and Turkic elements. The materials demonstrate the evolution of religious concepts from the cult of female fertility deities to androcentric imagery, reflecting social changes and the region's integration into the Islamic world. Key words: Jankent, Oghuz, pre-Islamic beliefs, Islamization, phallic cult, anthropomorphic, syncretism. |