Stating that the wolf has a very important place in Turkish history, especially in epics, legends and stories, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Eğilmez said, “Agile, strong and able to continue its life under very difficult conditions, the wolf has been accepted as a symbol of the life and fighting power of the Turkish nation throughout history. The wolf motif was carefully handled in the Göktürk epics, and the re-proliferation of the Turks was linked to this motif. In their legends, it is depicted that the ancestor of the Ashina family, the Gokturk Khagan dynasty, was a female wolf. In another Turkish narrative, the Oghuz Khagan epic, a wolf emerges from a light and speaks, guiding the Turkish army. The wolf-headed flag erected in front of the tents of the Gokturk Khagans became a symbol of the Khaganate among the Turks. However, this tradition was not unique to the Gokturks alone, and was used by many Turkish states before and after. The Turks attributed some sacred qualities to the wolf they lived with in the steppes, and then thought that they were also wolves in terms of their characteristics and likened their rulers to grey wolves," he said.
"A distinctive element specific to the Turks"
Assoc. Prof. Dr. explained that research conducted in almost every branch of social sciences revealed that the wolf motif is a defining element specific to the Turks. Savaş Eğilmez says, "The wolf figure in Turks; It has been reflected in epics, proverbs, idioms, plant names, place names, personal names, mythology, beliefs and creeds, paintings and sculptures, architecture, motifs in handicrafts and has caused the emergence, development and survival of a wolf cult to the present day. It is also possible to come across the Turkish motif in recent Turkish literature. For example, in some works of Halide Edip, Kemal Tahir, Yahya Kemal, Atilla İlhan, the wolf figure and sections from Turkish society have been included. In the researches conducted today, 18 plant names, 19 place names, 27 personal names, 55 proverbs and idioms related to the name wolf have been identified. The wolf motif, whose existence in Turkish societies is observed in every area of their lives, has almost become integrated with Turkish cultural life. In Turks who have established great states, the wolf has become the symbol of political dominance. In Chinese annals, it is stated that Turks are descended from wolves, that wolf is a sovereignty for Turks, It is reported that it is a symbol of bravery. Again, sources include information such as 'Western Turks hang a she-wolf's head on top of their flags'. In history, a wolf head figure was used on some flags and banners used by Turks. In the Gokturks, warriors who formed the guard unit of the khan were called 'böri'. Another name for the most important part of the historical Turkish war strategy is called Wolf Tactic. In some Turkish states, the dynasty members at the heads of tribes were given the title of Ilteber, which also means grey wolf. Many tribes have animals that they consider sacred to themselves. But none of them have a relationship as historical, cultural and strong as the relationship between the Turkish Nation and the Wolf," he said.
"History will never allow this"
Recalling that Turkish national team player Merih Demiral celebrated his joy by making the grey wolf sign after scoring a goal in the match against Austria, Assoc. Savaş Eğilmez said, "After this joy that integrated with the entire Turkish nation, anti-Turkish groups took action and UEFA launched an investigation into our national player. It would be very wrong to see this as just UEFA's own initiative. Because German Interior Minister Nancy Feaser, Israeli media and the Armenian diaspora based in America, who could not accept this national joy of Merih Demiral, immediately took action and put pressure on UEFA. The Armenian diaspora even started a campaign to have Merih banned from international competitions. This investigation and anti-Turkish rhetoric are never acceptable. Merih's joy embraced the Turkish nation and became a strong message to Turkish culture and history. No matter what anyone does or says, they cannot ban or make forget the Wolf, who is so strongly connected to the political, social and cultural life of the Turkish nation. History will never allow this."
