Manas: the Kyrgyz Heroic Epos in Four Parts

Manas: the Kyrgyz Heroic Epos in Four Parts translated by Walter May

Many visitors to the Kyrgyz Republic arrive at the Manas International Airport of Bishkek, and wonder, “Who is Manas?” Manas is no mere man but a hero of mythic proportions, the protagonist of the Manas Epos. The Manas Epos is hailed as the classic centerpiece of Kyrguz literature, the encyclopaedia of Kyrgyz culture, the touchstone of the Kyrgyz spirit. It is the longest epic poem in the world with close to half a million lines.