THE ROLE OF THE HORSE SYMBOL IN THE HERO’S EXPERIENCE IN NORTHERN KURMANJI DIWANKÎ SONGS: SHAKIRO’S SONGS AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The horse is one of the creatures that has been associated with human life since ancient times. This relationship was not limited to meeting practical and livelihood needs; rather, it transcended them, and the horse became a symbol in the cultures and literatures of various peoples. In Kurdish literature and culture as well, the horse holds significant symbolic value, a fact that is particularly evident in Kurdish folklore. This study seeks to highlight the role of the symbol of the horse in the Diwankî songs in Northern Kurmanji Kurdish, as an important and influential component of Kurdish folklore. The songs of Şakiro, one of the most renowned Kurdish folk singers, have been selected as the primary material for analysis. The study is built around a central question: How does the horse, as a symbol in Kurdish culture, perform its role in the experience or journey of the hero in Northern Kurmanji Diwankî songs? The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. After discussing the horse as a universal symbol, it relies on the texts of Şakiro’s songs to demonstrate its role in the hero’s experience. The study concludes that, as in the literature of other nations, the horse in Kurdish folklore represents an extension of the hero’s personality, but with distinctive characteristics. The hero’s journey often begins with his horse, which remains his companion in both prosperity and adversity. The separation of the horse from the hero symbolizes the end of the journey or the hero’s experience, which is often tragic in nature. Thus, in Northern Kurmanji Diwankî songs, the horse becomes a symbol of companionship, strength, heroism, and loyalty.