Turul Bird, Buda Castle, Budapest

The statue of mythical Turul bird that guards the Buda castle. The flying Turul bird’s statue marks Hungary’s millennium anniversary in 1896.

The Turul itself resembles a mix between an eagle and a falcon. There were three large statues of the Turul, each with a wingspan of 15 m. Only one of the three statues remains. You can see the last “lifesize” statue of the Turul atop the mountain Tatabánya in Hungary. It is adorned with a crown and holds the flaming Sword of God within its talons.

Turul is the most important bird in the origin myth of the Magyars (Hungarian people). It is a divine messenger, and perches on top of the tree of life along with the other spirits of unborn children in the form of birds. Image of Turul became a symbol of power, strength, and nobility, and it is still used today on the coat of arms of the Hungarian Army and the Office of National Security.

Turul is a mythical symbol of the power of the Hungarian God Isten. The Turul statue is often depicted as wielding the “flaming Sword of God”. The sword is interesting as it is considered a legendary weapon created by Hadúr, their God of Fire.

mythical Turul bird

Mythical Turul bird statue in Budapest Hungary

My 11 year old was very curious, Is Turul a real bird? She asked.

From the look and structure it seemed like an eagle or falcon, but in reality no such bird exists. In reality it is an entirely fictional mythical bird known as a “Turul”.

Now she was eager to know the story of this mythological bird Turul.

Some groups who identify themselves as spiritual UFO hunters claim that in the year 12788 BCE, the Turul Clan left the planet Turul in the solar system Sirius B and landed on earth.

Two Hungarian legends are attributed to origin of Turul.

Emese’s Dream –  Emese wife of Ügyek, a descendant of Atilla the Hun, the progenitress of the Hungarian people dreamed that she is impregnated by a Turul and gives birth to Álmos.. The dream meant she would give birth to a line of mighty rulers.  Álmos would later have a son, Árpád, the founder of Árpád Clan, which ruled Hungary during the country’s golden age, from the tenth to the thirteen century CE.

The Conquest of the Magyars – This relates to the territorial legitimating the Hungarian state. In this story, Turuls led a group of wandering tribes into the Carpathian basin, showing them the land of their future country.

Turul Hungary

Turul Hungary

Interesting Facts about Hungarian Turul

  • The very first Hungarian balloon, which took off on May 1, 1902, was called Turul.
  • Since 1989, the Turul symbol has gradually appeared in various popular designs, from T-shirts and flags to wall clocks, bags, wine, and cutlery.
  • The symbol of the Turul has been used in various ways throughout history, mostly in a military context.
  • It is used in the logos of three major Hungarian institutions: the Military National Security Service, the Hungarian Army, and the Constitution Protection Office.
  • The symbol is also used in a number of official seals of Hungarian settlements.
  • There are now more than 257 Turul monuments and statues across Hungary and in neighboring countries.
Miraculous Deer Hungary

Miraculous Deer Hungary

There were talks of imposing a one-year prison sentence on anyone caught defacing images of the Turul or the Miraculous Deer, another important figure in the Hungarian ethno genetic myth. Not sure if it really holds true.

Also see: Golden Eagle of Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Read more: Mythical Creatures – Merlion, Symbol of Singapore, Basilisk in Basel

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