Mythological elements in the transition periods of the Çukurova region

In this master's thesis titled "Mythological Elements in Transition Periods in Çukurova Region", the traditions, beliefs and rituals related to the birth, circumcision, military service, marriage, pilgrimage and death transition periods of Adana, Hatay, Mersin and Osmaniye provinces within the borders of Çukurova were identified by scanning books, theses, articles and papers, and then the origins of these traditions, beliefs and rituals were examined and mythological and archaic motifs were tried to be determined. The study consists of 12 chapters in total. In the introduction, the subject, purpose, method and limits of the study are given and then the problems encountered during the study are mentioned and solution suggestions are presented. In the first part of the study, literature evaluation was made and studies on mythological elements were mentioned. In the second chapter, the concepts of mythology and transition periods are introduced. In the third chapter, Adana, Hatay, Mersin and Osmaniye, which constitute the geographical boundaries of the study, are introduced in terms of their historical, geographical and cultural characteristics. In the fourth chapter, the ancient Turkish beliefs of animism, totemism, Shamanism, Buddhism, Manichaeism and Zoroastrianism are included in the context of their influence on traditions, beliefs and rituals. In the fifth chapter, customs, beliefs and rituals related to celestial bodies, water, rain, fire, hearth, stone, soil, tree, plant, plant products and fruit products, mines and cave are discussed in the context of natural elements. In the sixth chapter, the mythological extraordinary elements are mentioned, and the motifs of dream, fortune telling, spirits, naming, changing frost and tenasüh are emphasized. In the seventh part of the study, animals such as horse, wolf, camel, donkey etc. were analyzed in the mythological context. In the eighth part of the study, beliefs around days, holidays and holy months are evaluated. Elements of magic are given in the ninth chapter. In the tenth chapter, the colors red, yellow, black, white, blue, green are discussed mythologically. In the eleventh chapter, the formulaic numbers of one, three, seven, twenty, forty, fifty-two, fifty-two and anniversaries are given. In the twelfth chapter, right/left, up/down directions are discussed. In the conclusion part of the study, the mythological elements identified in the transition periods are evaluated in general. It is possible to say that the traditions, beliefs and rituals belonging to the transitional periods in the Çukurova region are from the ancient period and are still practiced to bring good to the person in the focus of the transition period and to ward off evil. Our study is important in terms of showing that the manners and knowledge of the people of the ancient period are still valid today and are applied in transition periods.