Mythological elements in Erzincan tales compiled by Ruhi Kara

Oral tradition products play a significant role in the transmission of societies' cultural heritage. As one of these products, folktales contribute to the continuity of collective memory by preserving cultural values and mythological elements. Turkish folktales, in particular, are among the most important narratives reflecting both the Turkish mythological tradition and universal mythological motifs. This study examines the mythological elements found in the folktales included in the doctoral dissertation Erzincan Masalları (Folktales of Erzincan), compiled by Ruhi Kara, and explores how these elements are reflected in the narratives. Employing a qualitative research design, the study analyzes seventy folktales from the Erzincan region through document analysis and content analysis. The findings reveal a total of fifty-eight mythological elements identified across the seventy folktales. These elements include supernatural elements, spatial elements, numbers and colors, animals, objects, and other mythological elements. The findings demonstrate that these elements reflect both the Turkish mythological tradition and universal mythological motifs. Consequently, the study concludes that the folktales of Erzincan possess a rich mythological structure and play a significant role in the transmission of cultural memory. Furthermore, the coexistence of local mythological elements and universal motifs in these folktales reveals the multidimensional cultural character of the Erzincan narrative tradition.