Umay

Umay is a pre-Islamic Turkic goddess associated with fertility, motherhood, and the protection of children. In Old Turkic sources, her name is also linked to the well-being of the ruling family and community.

Old Turkic inscriptions: Monumental texts written in the Old Turkic script, especially those of the eighth-century Göktürk khaganate. The Orkhon inscriptions name Umay while describing her protection of a ruler’s family.
Mother goddess: A deity associated with motherhood, fertility, birth, or the protection of children. Umay is often interpreted through her maternal and child-protecting roles.
Bilge Qaghan inscription: An eighth-century Old Turkic monument commemorating the Göktürk ruler Bilge Qaghan. Its text invokes Umay in describing the birth and divine favor of the ruler’s son.
Tengri: The supreme sky deity in many ancient Turkic and Mongolic religious traditions. Tengri represents overarching celestial authority, while Umay is associated with protection and fertility.
Göktürk Khaganate: A Turkic empire that ruled parts of Inner Asia from the sixth to eighth centuries. Its inscriptions provide the best-known early written evidence for Umay.
Fertility deity: A deity associated with reproduction, agricultural abundance, or the renewal of life. Fertility is among the central associations attributed to Umay.
Kül Tegin inscription: An eighth-century Old Turkic monument commemorating the Göktürk military leader Kül Tegin. Its account associates Umay with protection of the ruling household.
Erlik: A deity associated with the underworld in some Turkic and Mongolic traditions. Erlik’s underworld associations contrast with Umay’s protection of life and children.
Orkhon inscriptions: Eighth-century Old Turkic monuments erected in Mongolia for Bilge Qaghan and Kül Tegin. These monuments connect Umay with divine protection and royal legitimacy.
Childbirth: The process by which a fetus is delivered from the uterus. Umay’s protective associations extend to mothers and children around birth.

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