Epic Geography

Places, relief and spaces

All spaces of the «Ural-batyr» epic are divided into 4 layers: from the real rivers and peaks of the Southern Urals to mythological sacred spaces.

Home of Yanbirde and Yanbike
✦ Mythological

Home of Yanbirde and Yanbike

Йәнбирҙе менән Йәнбикә йорто

An unnamed wild region where the ancestors Yanbirde and Yanbike dwell. Their sons Ural-batyr and Shulgan are born and raised there. The...

The Crossroads
✦ Mythological

The Crossroads

Юл айырымы

The place where the brothers Ural-batyr and Shulgan part ways at a crossroads, choosing between an easy path and a difficult one. A...

Kingdom of Padishah Katil
✦ Mythological

Kingdom of Padishah Katil

Ҡатил батша иле

The realm of the cruel ruler Katil, through which Ural-batyr passes on his journey. The epic text provides no precise geographical features.

Serpent Kingdom of Kahkaha
✦ Mythological

Serpent Kingdom of Kahkaha

Йылан батшалығы (Ҡаһҡаһа иле)

The underground and underwater realm of the serpent king Kahkaha. Ural-batyr and Zarkum enter this kingdom in search of the keys to...

Palace of Azraka
✦ Mythological

Palace of Azraka

Әзрәҡә һарайы

The court of Azraka, the padishah of the divs. Here stands the maidan, a place of contests where the fate of captives is determined.

Yanshishma (Living Spring)
✦ Mythological

Yanshishma (Living Spring)

Йәншишмә

A spring whose waters grant immortality. Ural-batyr finds it but does not drink from it himself; instead, he sprinkles the earth to make...

Mountains from the Bodies of the Divs
✦ Mythological

Mountains from the Bodies of the Divs

Дейеү кәүҙәләренән барлыҡҡа килгән тауҙар

Mountains formed from the bodies of the divs slain and cut to pieces by Ural-batyr. The highest mountain is formed from the body of...

The Poisoned Lakes
✦ Mythological

The Poisoned Lakes

Ағыулы күлдәр

Lakes in which the surviving divs took refuge after poisoning the waters. Ural-batyr drinks them dry, saving mankind at the cost of his own life.

Upper Realm
✦ Mythological

Upper Realm

Сәмрау батшалығы

The celestial solar realm ruled by Samrau, king of birds. Humay and Ayhylu dwell here. A space of light, sun, and birds with no...

Middle World
✦ Mythological

Middle World

Урта донъя

The earthly world of humans, home to Yanbirde and Yanbike where the main events of the epic unfold. The territory of the future Southern...

Lower World
✦ Mythological

Lower World

Аҫҡы донъя

The underwater and underground realm, the abode of serpents and divs. A place of darkness, chaos, and water, where Shulgan withdrew...

Shulgan-Tash Cave
⬤ Real 53.0412°N, 57.0636°E

Shulgan-Tash Cave

Шүлгәнташ

A renowned karst cave with Paleolithic rock art. In the epic, it is the place where Shulgan hides, serving as an entrance to the...

Agidel River (Belaya)
⬤ Real 54.7431°N, 55.9678°E

Agidel River (Belaya)

Ағиҙел

The largest river of Bashkortostan, approximately 1,430 km long, originating in the Avalyak range. In the epic, it was carved out by...

Yaik River (Ural)
⬤ Real 51.7727°N, 55.0988°E

Yaik River (Ural)

Яйыҡ (Урал) йылғаһы

One of Eurasia's largest rivers, approximately 2,428 km long. In the epic, it is connected to Ural-batyr's son Yaik, who gave it his name.

Nugush River
⬤ Real 52.9800°N, 57.1500°E

Nugush River

Нөгөш йылғаһы

A tributary of the Belaya River, approximately 235 km long. In the epic, it is connected to Ural-batyr's son Nugush.

Sakmara River
⬤ Real 52.2000°N, 57.4000°E

Sakmara River

Һаҡмар йылғаһы

A tributary of the Ural River, approximately 798 km long. In the epic, it is connected to Shulgan's son Sakmar.

Ural Mountains
⬤ Real

Ural Mountains

Урал тауҙары

A mountain system dividing Europe and Asia, extending along the Southern Urals. A generalized mountain range without specific point...

Mount Yamantau
⬤ Real 54.2500°N, 58.1200°E

Mount Yamantau

Ямантау

The highest point of the Southern Urals (1,640 m). According to some scholars' hypothesis, it corresponds to the mountain that arose...

Mount Iremel
⬤ Real 54.5200°N, 58.8200°E

Mount Iremel

Иремәл

A mountain 1,582 m high. It is mentioned by scholars in the context of the epic, but no direct textual connection to the plot of...

Margiana
⬤ Real 37.5800°N, 62.2000°E

Margiana

Маргиана

An ancient Bronze Age civilization in Western Asia. According to the hypothesis of L.A. Yamaeva, it is a possible historical and...