Yelbeghen

Sources describe Yelbeghen as a mythic monster within Turkic oral and epic material. Etymological notes recorded in the cited summaries link yel ('wind, magic, demonic') with a second element traced to begen / böke ('giant serpent, dragon'), which commentators use to explain its original draconic/serpentine character. Some epic cycles place multiple Yelbegens as offspring of a figure named Altan Sibaldai (the 'golden witch'), and mention a Yelbegen king (Yelmogus) in certain accounts; these genealogical details appear in secondary summaries of the epic material rather than in a single fixed cosmogonic origin narrative.

Early attestations and summaries describe Yelbeghen as multi‑headed (commonly 3, 7, or 9 heads) and originally serpent‑ or dragon‑like; later variants present it as a multi‑headed ogre or behemoth. It is described in summaries as extremely large, fire‑breathing, of supernatural strength, and often depicted as wealthy (possessing castles and hidden riches). Some accounts emphasize a bestial, chaotic aspect while others depict the creature as intelligent and magically proficient.

Reported powers include fire‑breathing, prodigious strength, long life, magical knowledge and sorcery, and the capacity to guard or hide great riches in remote places. In Altai legend Yelbeghen is explicitly said to 'eat' the Sun, Moon, and to 'chew the stars,' a motif used to explain lunar eclipses and other celestial irregularities. Some summaries also record tales where Yelbeghen is lustful toward women and capable of producing offspring with humans. Secondary summaries note that Yelbeghen can function as a coherent, knowledgeable adversary in epic narratives as well as a chaotic cosmic predator.