Abstract
AN EXAMPLE OF TURKISH FOLKLORE: NIKO MARIE'S DIARIES
In this study, we will address Academician Niko Mari’s work named “Şavşat and Tao-Klarjeti Travel Journals" which involves his impressions during his visit to the northeastern cities of modern Turkey in 1904 and which was published in Russian language in St. Petersburg in 1911. It is very important in terms of being a cultural and historical resource because it has not lost its scientific value until today. As it is understood from the materials, it is obviously seen from the "Diaries", that the early 20th century had a tradition of epic minstrelsy. Niko Mari, describes the story of "Tehar Mirza" and Köroğlu, recorded by old Mosidze, which are the main characters of the Turkish epic poems and songs in proses, the part of oriental prose is narrated in Georgian and the poetic part is narrated in Turkish. We can define the Georgian-Turkish form as a bilingual text with both textual and formal structures using the concept of "cultural expansion" or "Folklorism". In addition to epic stories, Niko Mari wrote and published Turkish Wedding Poems as well as Georgian Oral examples. His love influenced the lyrics. The work has interesting information about instruments besides Turkish musical and dance folklore.
Keywords
Niko Mari, folklore, Köroğlu, Terha Mirza.