Ülgen

Benevolent lord of the upper world; son of Kayra, brother of Erlik.

Parentage

• parent: Kayra

Domains

• heaven
• creation

Powers

• Shape the earth and living beings
• Hurl thunder and lightning from the heights

Epithets

• Ülgen latin · Ulgen · cultThe benevolent sky-creator of the upper world, dwelling above the layered heavensA. V. Anokhin, on Altai shamanism (secondary)
• Бай Үлгэн Altai Turkic · Bay Ülgen · cultRich / Magnificent ÜlgenWilhelm Radloff, Aus Sibirien; Uno Holmberg (Harva), Finno-Ugric, Siberian Mythology (secondary)

Relations

• sibling: ErlikIn Altai tellings the dark lord is Ulgen's brother; in other versions Erlik is the first man Ulgen made. Recorded per the brotherhood variant.Uno Holmberg [Harva], Finno-Ugric, Siberian Mythology (The Mythology of All Races IV, 1927), Altaic creation accounts (secondary)
• enemy: ErlikErlik rebelled at the creation, marred Ulgen's work and was cast down to rule the lower world; the pair embody the upper/lower dualism.W. Radloff, Aus Sibirien (1884), vol. II, Altai creation narrative (secondary)

Sources

• existence: Altai creation song, in W. Radloff, Proben der Volkslitteratur (1866) (primary)