The Cult of Ancestors in Oghuz Cosmogony: The Concepts of Ata, Baba, and Dede

This article explores the essence and functions of the ancestor cult – specifically the concepts of ata (father), baba (grandfather/elder), and dede (wise elder) – within the cosmogony of the Oghuz Turks. Based on the Oghuz epic tradition, the study demonstrates that the notion of the ancestor is not merely a mythological belief but also a fundamental ideological factor shaping the socio-political structure, moral values, and national identity of Oghuz society. Through figures such as Oghuz Khan, Dede Qorqud, and Bayandur Khan, the article reveals the leadership, wisdom, protective, and sacred mediatory functions of the ancestor. The cult of ancestors in the Oghuz epic tradition is assessed as a fundamental system uniting the historical memory, national-spiritual values, and statehood traditions of the Azerbaijani people.