A unique review by Cherkez Niyazmamedov about dragon shapes on the facade of the Seyit Jemaletdin monument was published on Neutral Turkmenistan.

The unusualness of this plot is that in the religious buildings of Islam, there are practically no images of living creatures, even mythical ones.

During the life of the Prophet and Messenger of Allah Muhammad (peace be upon him) and in the following century, there were no serious problems with the artistic depiction of living creatures. There are many examples of living images even on official government documents. And only at some point near the mid-8th century, Islamic religious tradition rejected images of living beings.

According to G.A. Pugachenkova's book "The Anau Mosque," the dragon-like creatures with snake-like bodies on the mosque's portal are a totem representing the main Turkmen tribe that lived in the Anau district during the 15th century. These creatures, known as azhdarha snakes, served as protectors of Saint Seyit Jemaletdin, whose name means "House of Beauty."

Historians trace the origin of the 12-year zodiac calendar, which was widely adopted across various regions of the world, to the lifestyle of the people of Central Asia and Turkic-speaking communities. The Turkmen people's ancestors had a complex relationship with dragons, which evolved significantly over the centuries. Archaeological excavations at Gonurdepe uncovered stone amulets that are around four thousand years old. These amulets depict images of writhing snakes or dragons paired with birds or animals, which symbolize the concept of universal fertility and the endless continuation of life on Earth.

The article says that it's time for the Rabbit, which symbolizes the outgoing year of 2023, to hand over its position to the Fish in the Turkmen zodiac. The Eastern Chinese calendar, which is widely used in many countries in Asia and Europe, indicates that the symbol for 2024 is the Dragon.

Following the Eastern calendar of many Asian peoples, the year of the Fish, and the year of the Dragon, has once again arrived in the ancient land of Turkmen. This brings about a festive atmosphere and renewed optimism for the future. The wise elders, drawing on their years of experience, predict that this year will yield a bountiful harvest and an increase in prosperity. However, they also caution that individuals must put in their best effort to achieve their goals, and not rely solely on external sources for support.

Photo: Sagit BATALOV