Tiger is Totem
Comments received from Sancar Ozer....
"Tiger is the totem of "alp" warrior class in Turkic societies. Alp(alıp,alıb, alpago,alpakut etc.) and/or Batur(bagatur, baatur,batyr, bahadır etc.) were the name of a class of noble cavalry warriors who serve under a "bey". The word itself means hero or warrior in old Turkish and a popular name throughout Turkish history. Historians believe this warrior type formed in Central Asia in 6th century and continued to exist till 18th century. Tımarlı Sipahi cavalries were their last manifestation. İt can be compared to samurai and knight warrior classes of Japan and Europe.
Anyway tiger is widely used as those warriors' main symbol. İt symbolised strength and fighting spirit and it is closely related to shamanistic religion of central asian Turks. Alps used to wear tiger skin on their armour. Then they started to decorate thir clothes with tiger stripe motifs(a.k.a chinese clouds) And people used to name their sons after this symbol. You can find a large amount of warrior kings and heros with the name of "tiger" in Turkish (or Turkic, I really don't know what is the difference) history.Two examples are Sultan Baybars(Bey+pars=Lord+panther-difference between leopard and tiger is not clear in old turkish language)of Memluklu and Babur Şah of Mughal empires."
Thank You for this information Sancar,
rand
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