THE NUMBER 40 AND THE GIRL'S TOWER IN TOPONYMIC LEGENDS

Collecting the toponymic legends of the Turkic peoples and studying them from the perspective of the Turkic worldview will undoubtedly open the way to identifying and knowing many common historical-cognitive, traditional-aesthetic values. First, the names of places and waters and legends related to them inform about a certain historical period, environment, and traditions. Second, they are related to the degree of national artistic thinking of the people in recognizing and evaluating the environment and their vivid imagination. The toponymic legends of the Turkic peoples reflect a standard plot, common thematic and ideological aspirations, beliefs, and artistic details. Many of the artistic details frequently employed in legends remain shrouded in mystery, adding an element of intrigue for the public. For example, what is the secret of the number 40, which is often used in connection with the legends of Korkyt ata? What is the standard interpretation of the “Girl's tower” concept in various toponymic legends? This article is dedicated to exploring these and other intriguing aspects, and it aims to foster a sense of connection by examining the shared unity of thought and belief in the land and water legends of the Turkic peoples. Although orientalists collected and studied the toponymic legends of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia from the 19th century, attention was mostly paid to their genre, thematic, stylistic, and historical-cognitive characteristics. Integration of the modern Turkic peoples is on the agenda, and this topic is distinguished by its relevance and practical value. Research in this direction allows scientific recognition of the historical-genetic, cultural-spiritual connection and kinship of the thought systems of the Turkic peoples. The article uses historical-cognitive and historical-comparative methods to study toponymic legends of fraternal Turkic peoples.