erlik

Erlik, also known as Erlik Khan, is a prominent figure in Turkic and Mongolic mythologies. He is commonly identified as the ruler of the underworld and the personification of death, often depicted in opposition to Tengri, the sky god.

Across different peoples, Erlik's realm is the afterlife or lower world where souls reside; he may be envisioned as judge, guardian, or ruler. Character and role vary: in some legends he is a malevolent trickster who tests humans or creates misfortune; in others he is a more neutral or necessary agent in the cosmic order.

Some traditions describe Erlik as a son or rival of the supreme deity, while others place him as a separate underworld ruler. In Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongol, and other Central Asian folklore, Erlik appears in epic tales and oral narratives, and his image has influenced later literary works.

The name's etymology is uncertain; some scholars link it to death-related roots in Turkic languages.