Oruzmek is the eldest and chief of the Nart heroes in the Karachay-Balkar cycle, the counterpart of the Ossetian Uryzmaeg. Reared among the Narts from an obscure and marvellous origin, he leads their raids and presides over their assemblies with his wife Satanay-biyche, the wise matriarch, at his side. Chief among his exploits is the killing of a one-eyed emegen giant, a Caucasian version of the blinding of the cyclops, and the overthrow of the tyrant who oppresses the heroes. He embodies the sovereign, war-leading virtue of the Narts and anchors the central family of the epic.