Alpamysh (epic)

Alpamysh is one of the most important works of Central Asian Turkic, especially Kipchak, oral literature, with versions among the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Bashkirs, Tatars and Altai.

The hero Alpamysh wins contests for his beloved Barchin, fights invaders and spends years in a dungeon before returning to save his family and people — a homecoming that recalls the tale of Bamsi Beyrek in the Book of Dede Korkut.

Uzbek bakhshi recite it for hours to the dombra, and Uzbekistan widely celebrated the 1,000th anniversary of Alpamysh in 1999.