ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Turkic creation myth

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, the world was an empty and chaotic place - there were no humans, animals or plants, and everything was dark and formless. But then, out of the darkness, a great being named Ulgen appeared.

Ulgen was a powerful and magical god who created the world and all living things. He first created the sky and the earth, and then went on to create the first humans out of clay. He breathed life into them and they became the ancestors of all Turkic people.

As the humans began to grow and multiply, Ulgen noticed that they were living in fear and suffering from hunger and thirst. So, he decided to send down his son, Erlik, to help them.

Erlik was a mischievous and cunning spirit, but he also had great powers. He and Ulgen worked together to teach the humans how to hunt, farm, and build homes. With their guidance, the humans were able to thrive and build great civilizations.

But Erlik also had a darker side to him. He became jealous of Ulgen's power and decided to rebel against him. This caused a great battle between the two powerful beings, but in the end, Ulgen emerged victorious.

To punish Erlik for his disobedience, Ulgen banished him to the underworld, where he became the ruler of the spirits and the source of evil in the world. However, he still remained a powerful figure and continued to play a role in the lives of the Turkic people.

And so, the Turkic creation myth teaches us that our world was created by a powerful and magical god named Ulgen, who created the first humans out of clay and sent his son Erlik to help them. Despite Erlik's rebellion and his descent into darkness, the Turkic people continue to honor both Ulgen and Erlik in their traditions and beliefs.
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