Asatayak: ethnoarchaeological artifact and its interpretation as a work of applied art

Abstract

«Asatayak» is a word formed from «asa» and «tayak», which have the same meaning. «Asa» means «stick, rod» in Arabic-Iranian languages. Asatayaks can be classified according to the material they are made from into stone, wooden, and iron asatayaks, and according to the period of their creation into archaeological and ethnographic period monuments. In the ancient states of Antiquity, the skeptron - asa was considered a sign and symbol that clarified the status of rulers as managers. The use of the skeptron - asa as an attribute of power continued into the Middle Ages. In the traditional culture of the Kazakh people, «asatayak» had a multifaceted character. In historical periods, asatayak was considered a symbol of power for khans and sultans. Asatayak served as a religious attribute for religious figures and a ritual-magical staff for shamans. Folklore associated with Asatayak reveals its sphere of use. The historical and cultural character of asatayak among the states and peoples who owned asatayak is closely related to the historical role of the owner, its holder, that is, it has a symbolic meaning, indicating the social status of the owner in society, and the difference in its image lay in the material and form of its creation.