The Epic of Battal Gazi in Turkish folk culture and the archetypical analysis of the epic

The writing of epics reflecting the history, cultural and social life and national values of nations is very important in terms of making the historical development and change of culture visible. Therefore, epics are very valuable works that show how this change shapes the collective consciousness. Battal Gazi Epic is a document reflecting this change as it is the first epic that was formed in Anatolia after the Turks accepted Islam. Battal Gazi's struggles against the Byzantines during the Islamization of Anatolia formed the core stage of the epic, and his heroism during the battles fought later turned into a powerful source of motivation for a great resurrection with the effective discourses of the epic narrators. This Islamic hero, who integrated with the ideal person in the nation's memory, penetrated into the soul of the nation and this state of adoption has reached our day in the form of hagiography, legend and memorates. In this study, narratives about Battal Gazi and other people in the epic were compiled in Malatya, Eskişehir, Elazığ and Ankara and the narratives were evaluated by comparing them with the epic. Great heroes are people who are able to face the darkness in their inner journeys. Only then can they bravely embark on real life. Battal Gazi is a hero who goes fearlessly and safely over death and other unknowns, and reaches the goal in his journey of becoming an individual. In order to address this aspect of Battal Gazi, the epic was also analyzed in terms of archetypal symbolism under the headings of 'Separation-Maturation-Return' in accordance with Campbell's 'Monomite Theory'. Today's mission and vision of this hero, who is national and universal in many aspects, showing its influence in a wide time and space, has been tried to be interpreted by evaluating it together with its reflections in intangible cultural heritage, apart from the studies mentioned. Keywords: Epic, Battal Gazi Epic, Battal Gazi, Hagiography, Legend, Memorate, Archetypal Analysis, Intangible Cultural Heritage.