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Screen reader
Screen reader
(Source: Shygys Kazakhstan anyzdar, ertegileri = Legends, tales of Eastern Kazakhstan. – Semey: Artex, 2018. – 122 b.)
long time ago, the endless steppe expanse of the Shilikta valley was chosen by ancient tribes. It was surrounded on three sides by mountains: in the south and west – Tarbagatai, in the east – Sauyr, in the north – Manyrak. The valley stood out from others with its favorable climate: summers were cool and winters were warm and snowless. From spring to autumn there were fragrant blooming gardens. Centuries-old trees provided saving shade. Green carpets of exotic grasses covered the steppe lands, and graceful animals of extraordinary beauty roamed their expanses: gazelles, antelopes and deers.
Great spirits guarded these lands. And wonderful people lived there – masters of their craft: miners and blacksmiths, potters, bone carvers and stone cutters, jewelers and carpenters, glassblowers and tanners, tailors and weavers, woodcarvers and sculptors. Craft was their breadwinner. And they were held in high esteem. With their mining skills, ancient miners extracted gold, silver, emeralds, semi-precious stones and iron ore from the mines.
The vast Shiliktinskaya valley attracted traders from all over the great steppe. Merchants of different nationalities and religions came here. People traveled long distances to come to the rich fair in Shilikty and buy exotic goods.
And in the neighboring lands at that time there lived an evil and envious leader of one of the local tribes, who was a very arrogant man and loved power more than anything in the world. The ruler had countless riches and was uncontrollably proud of them, boasting to other leaders in order to surprise them. He heard that the craftsmen of the Shilikty Valley, skilled in metal processing, had made magic armor and an unusual crown. Half of it was cast from gold, and the other half from silver. The gold part was decorated with precious stones and amber, and the silver part sparkled with black diamonds. It was rumored that the one who becomes the owner of the magic crown and puts it on his head will be able to conquer almost the entire world, becoming its new ruler and gaining unlimited power. As soon as the ruler heard about the local curiosity, his heart was inflamed with a thirst to get the amazing crown, take possession of it personally and become famous, becoming the great “ruler of the Universe.” He also wanted to take possession of the magic armor that would bring victory to its owner. He sent his horsemen to destroy the beautiful city of craftsmen and get him the desired trophies.
But a miracle happened. When the enemies came very close to the gates of the city, it suddenly fell into the ground with all its buildings. The native land could not withstand the enemy onslaught. It suddenly opened up and covered the city with itself. Thus the bright city of masters plunged into darkness and disappeared.
It’s not for nothing that people say: “Their secrets open all gates to the masters.”
All that remained were ancient stones, mysterious rock paintings and numerous steppe mounds. They keep their secrets securely. Who knows – maybe these are the mysterious monuments of a wonderful tribe of craftsmen that hid in their native land?
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