Aşık Game

The Aşık Game is a fun and exciting game played since ancient times. It is played using a special bone from the legs of animals such as sheep or goats. This bone is called an “aşık.” Let’s learn what this game is, how it is played, and why it is so special!

Aşık Game (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

What Is the Aşık Bone?

The aşık bone is a small bone found in the hind legs of animals such as sheep, goats, and deer. It is located at the animal’s knee joint and helps with movement. Humans also call their heel bone the “aşık bone,” but for the game, animal bones are typically used. These bones are small, lightweight, and durable, making them ideal for play.

The History of the Aşık Game

The Aşık Game is an extremely ancient game! Thousands of years ago, the Turks in Central Asia played this game. In fact, aşık bones have been found dating back to the Neolithic period, between 7000 and 5000 BCE. Stone reliefs at Çatalhöyük and in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations depict children playing with aşık bones. This means the game was already being played by the great-great-grandfathers of our ancestors!

The Turks loved this game. Nomadic Turkish communities, who relied on animals for their livelihood, used aşık bones for games. This game was brought to Anatolia by Turkish groups migrating from Asia and is still played in some regions today.

Aşık Bones (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

Why Is the Aşık Game Important?

The Aşık Game is not only entertaining but also holds a special place in Turkish culture. In the past, people used aşık bones not only for games but also for other purposes, such as:

• To bring good luck: Children used to wear aşık bones on their shoulders to ward off the evil eye!
• As decoration: Women wore necklaces made from aşık bones.

Moreover, the Aşık Game is mentioned in old Turkish tales, including the Dede Korkut Stories. This shows just how beloved the game was, does it not?

How Is the Aşık Game Played?

The Aşık Game is played in different ways in different regions, but the most common versions are the Line Game and the Castle Game. The bones used in the game have two names:

• Eneke: A larger, heavier aşık bone. Players use it to throw.
• Gıda: Smaller bones. These are arranged on the ground and aimed to be hit with the eneke.

Line Game

This game can be played by two to six players. Each player has one “eneke” and one “gıda.” The game is played as follows:

1. Prepare the Playing Area: Draw a circle with a diameter of 1.5 meters in the center. This circle is called the “gıda circle.” On either side of the circle, two meters away, draw “ebe lines.”
2. Arrange the Gıdas: Each player places one gıda bone inside the gıda circle. These bones are arranged side by side in a position called “şek” or “alçi.”
3. Determine Turn Order: Players toss their enekes into the air to decide who goes first. The player whose eneke lands in the best position (“şek” or “alçi”) earns the first turn.
4. Throwing: Players throw their enekes from the ebe line toward the gıda circle. The goal is to hit the gıdas and knock them out of the circle. A player who successfully knocks out a gıda continues throwing. If they fail, the turn passes to the next player.
5. Rules: Players must not cross the ebe line or step inside the gıda circle. If a gıda lands exactly on the edge of the circle, it is called “suya düşme” (falling into water), and the player must make a “sulama” throw. If the eneke lands in a good position during the sulama throw, the player earns another turn.

Castle Game

This game is also played by two to six players, but uses a wall. The game is played as follows:

1. Playing Area: The gıdas are arranged side by side or stacked about three meters away from a wall. This wall is called the “kale.”
2. Determine Turn Order: Players first toss their enekes to determine order. The player whose eneke lands closest to the kale wall gets the first turn.
3. Throwing: Players throw their enekes from the base of the kale wall toward the gıdas. The goal is to hit and scatter the gıdas and collect the gıda that lands in the same position as the eneke. For example, if the eneke lands in the “şek” position, the player may collect the gıda that also lands in the “şek” position.
4. Hit the Opponent’s Eneke: A player may hit another player’s eneke by saying, “Aşığa enekeye, heç meç!” If successful, that player is eliminated. However, if the phrase is not spoken, the hit does not count.
5. Extra Throw: If the eneke lands in the “şek” or “çik” position, the player earns an additional throw.

Other Game Variants

The Aşık Game has other fun variations too! For example:

• Gıynız Game: Played in Ankara and Çorum. Gıdas are struck and moved away with a stick. Players try to protect their gıdas.
• Milk Bone Game: Common in Ankara and Kırşehir. The ebe throws the aşık far away, and players race to find it and bring it back to the kale. The player who finds it may try to deceive the others!
• Akkoç Karakoç Game: Played in Konya. The group that finds the aşık chases the other group, mounts them on their backs, and carries them to the kale.

Aşık Game (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)

The Aşık Game Today

The Aşık Game is an important part of Turkish culture and was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2017 by Kazakhstan. Although no special clubs or associations in Türkiye organize this game regularly, it is still played at certain festivals and celebrations. Perhaps one day you will have the chance to play it at a local festival!