A comparative study on the concept of nature in Turkish and Greek mythologies

The aim of this thesis is to determine how the concepts of myth and nature are related in Greek and Turkish mythology, and to demonstrate that these concepts are not merely ordinary tales or a collection of functionless legends, but rather have counterparts in the practices of both cultures. These correspondences in the practices of the two cultures have been analysed and evaluated in separate sections, drawing on written and oral sources that have survived to the present day. In light of these evaluations, it has been observed that the concepts of myth and nature are intertwined and that, in the practices of both cultures, a mythical reading is employed in understanding and interpreting nature. These observations shed light on the thought and behavioural codes of the Greek and Turkish nations, which have become part of human history as civilisations and cultures and continue to interact intensely in various fields, from the perspective of myth and nature. In this context, it has been seen that primary natural objects such as the sky, mountains, earth and fire have gained intense functionality in Greek and Turkish mythologies, from creation to political legitimacy and even the art and technique of living. As two distinct cultures spanning centuries, Greek and Turkish cultures have been influenced in many areas, including religion, philosophy, politics, and art. Therefore, this thesis study has excluded areas beyond the scope of the two cultures, addressing them only in the context of mythology and nature. As the study focuses on the concepts of myth and nature in Greek and Turkish cultures, it has taken care to draw on sources dating back centuries, even though myth is a living phenomenon experienced in the society in which it originated. Therefore, as Malinowski also pointed out, every study conducted and to be conducted on myth is confronted with its cold face, and this phenomenon emerges as a limitation in this thesis study.