Tepegoz

Acrylic, watercolor & gold on passepartout cardboard, 45 x 30 cm, Artist’s Collection 

In Turkic mythology, Tepegoz is a legendary creature who has only one eye on his forehead. This miniature painting depicts a story from the Book of Dede Korkut, where Basat dares to encounter Tepegoz in his cave, even though all the heroes who had previously tried to kill him died trying to do so.

Curator’s Note: The Book of Dede Korkut is a collection of epic stories describing the nomadic lifestyle and pre-Islamic beliefs of the Oghuz, a Turkic tribe that migrated westward from Central Asia in the 8th and 9th centuries. Many people living today in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan trace their heritage to the Oghuz.