Description

Ashina

Just a few days ago, I was in Istanbul Turkey standing all alone outside the Hagia Sofia. I was waiting for my group to exit so we could go on to the great cistern nearby. 

As I stood nonchalant, just biding my time and watching the large crowd, I noticed nearby a large group of teenagers assembling. They seemed to be talking in earnest. Presently a couple of the boys broke off, walked up to me and said, “You are very handsome!”

I was stunned. Where did that come from? Suddenly I was mobbed by about 30 teenagers all wanting to take pictures, selfies, etc. with me. This went on and on. Several of the girls walked up to me and said, “You are very hot!” and then they wanted pictures. We even shot a large group photo with the leader. 

Unbeknownst to me, my group had exited and was watching all of this with great amusement. Finally, they got tired of waiting for me and hollered at me to come. I was still wondering what this was all about. I mean after all, I was not the only white guy in that milling crowd of thousands, nor was I the only American—and I have never been handsome or hot!

Just before I left, several of the boys gathered around me and made a unique symbol with their fingers and taught me how to do it. I did and they were delighted and snapped more pictures. I wondered if I was inadvertently flipping someone off in Turkish. Just as I walked away one of the boys came up and said Co—boy! He repeated it and I wondered what he meant. 

I caught up with the group and we went to lunch. At lunch it happened again—this time with adults. They shot photo after photo with me. They explained that they saw me as an American cowboy and no one in Turkey dressed like I did—hat, boots, jeans, denim jacket. They asked me to teach them how I was standing—which again—evidently, no one stands like that in Turkey. They borrowed my hat and snapped more photos. Altogether it was fun—embarrassing—but fun. 

But that symbol with the fingers stuck in my mind. This is what I learned. 

According to the legend Ashina:

“A wounded gray she-wolf with a shimmering coat gave birth to half-wolf half-human offspring after eating a magical turquoise stone. A young boy named Ashina found the wolf and her pups and took them home, where one of the wolf cubs, a male transformed into a human baby. This boy grew up and became the father of the [Turks]…. Ashina is considered the ancestor of the Ashina clan and is regarded as a symbol of strength, resilience, and the origins of the Turkish people. The legend of Ashina and the gray wolf is deeply rooted in Turkish folklore, representing the mystical and foundation connection between wolves and the Turkic tribes.”

The wolf is their symbol of bravery, strength, and independence—the protector and symbol of freedom. It is the sign of the warrior. Considering now that they asked me to make that symbol with them, I am deeply honored and will always remember it. 

I am reminded again that the symbols and stories we love and teach to our youth define who and what they will be.

Sources:

https://japanesemythology.wordpress.com/slavic-mythology-hors-dazbog-solar-deity-and-wolf-deity-or-lame-wolf-shepherdwho-rules-the-underworld/