Paper short abstract:

This paper is aimed at sacred king in the Central Asian region. This is a very specific position of ruler that we find across different cultures. I argue the presence of a sacral king based on the compilation of the principal characteristics of a sacral ruler according to primary sources.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is aimed at sacred king in the Central Asian region between ancient and medieval times. This is a very specific position of ruler that we find across different cultures. The theme of the sacred king connects west and east, sensing the differences of different cultures. So, this type of king can be found in the Middle East: Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, in the West: Greece, Rome, in the environment of the Germanic tribes, East: China and South American ethnicities, and even in Central Asia.

In the diverse environment of Central Asia, we have encountered different religious beliefs since antiquity. These were shamanism, totemism, ancestral and heroes’ worship, Tengrism and the main universal religions worshipped by nomadic tribes in this vast environment. The contrast of the steppe environment enhanced the fragility of life. The adoption of religions was the result of a complex interaction of political and cultural powers.

Sacrament, that is, the spiritual realm of the king has served in history as a guarantee of certainty, welfare, and protection of that society. The ruling elite tends to be related to the gods. The very role of the deity that receives the ruler, communicates with him, gives him advice, gives him the earthly mandate of power confirms his authority for society. Combining material strength and spiritual power was a guarantee of certainty for societies.

I argue the presence of a sacral king in the environment of Central Asia based on the compilation of the principal characteristics of a sacral ruler according to primary sources. This paper is based on primary sources such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, Livy, Plutarch, the Bugut Inscription. I argue with examples of individual traits in other areas and based on a list of characteristic traits, indicate their occurrence in Central Asia.