Zayatulak and Hyuhylu

Zayatulak and Hyuhylu[1] (Bashkir: Заятүләк менән Һыуhылыу, Tatar: Заятүләк белән Сусылу, Түләк, Түләк китабы) is a part-prose, part-poetry epic of the Tatar and Bashkir people who live in Bashkortostan, Russia.

[2][need quotation to verify][3][4][5] The main characters are named Zayatulak and Hyuhylu.

At the start of the epic, Zayatulak dives in a lake, where a mermaid named Hyuhylu lives.

The epic is completed with the death of Hyuhylu while she was waiting for Zayatulak, while Zayatulak was riding a tulpar (a legendary winged horse).

Shortly after, Zayatulak commits suicide in the tomb of Hyuhylu.