Kazakh-Kyrgyz mythology

The mythology Kazakh-Kirghiz means myths and legends of the two Kazakh and Kyrgyz peoples, culturally very close.

The origin of the Kazakh people is complex. It has its origins in the peoples turkish and tribes mongolian medieval, including the Argyns, Doulats, Naimans, Jalayirs, Khazars and Karluks, as well as Cumans; other peoples took part in the formation of the Kazakh people, such as the Huns, the Sarmatians, the Sakas and the Scythians, who lived in the territories between Siberia and the Black Sea between the V^e and XIII^e centuries. The Kazakh khanate, the first political emanation of the Kazakh people, was only really formed XV^e century.

The Kyrgyz or Kirghiz are a Turkish-speaking people (Kyrgyz) residing in Kyrgyzstan and in the border regions of Tajikistan and western China (Xinjiang Autonomous Region). The etymology of their name has given rise to several hypotheses.

• It can be "those who wander in the steppe" (cf. Turks of Turkey kirk, "Steppe" and gez-, "Wander" or simply "men of the steppe").
• A popular etymology makes them descend from "forty daughters" (qirq qız which means "forty girls". According to a legend, forty girls whose tribe had been massacred would have been impregnated by a mythical beast or a griffin.