Manas, Semetey, Seytek trilogy

Kyrgyz Epos

Epos Manas is the most important of numerous eposes in Kyrgyz oral literature. The epos describes the miraculous birth and courageous deeds of a great hero named Manas who won back the Kyrgyz land from enemies and united the exiled 40 Kyrgyz tribes. Manas is not a historical personality, but rather a legendary and ideal hero, who had several real prototypes. He is a figure who unifies Kyrgyz nation as one and is described as a “lion” and primarily known as “generous”. I hope you enjoy this wonderful epos.

Fantastic!

Much more realistic and culturally immersive than other well known epics, and (like the Iliad) possessed of both heroic deeds and moral ambiguity that cries out for subtle commentary. No wonder this poem survives in oral tradition among the steppe peoples from the Caspian Sea to the Tarim Basin.