Human–Hedgehog Relationships in Turkic-Speaking Areas
Journal: Orientalia Suecana
Year: 2025

Hedgehogs play an important cultural role among various peoples in Eurasia. They appear in myths, and are regarded as wise guides, protectors, or magical creatures. Some important biocultural domains where human–hedgehog relationships are particularly visible are food and medicine. Moreover, the animal also appears in metaphors, other linguistic expressions, and storytelling traditions. Using a wide and varied range of sources, this article analyzes the human–hedgehog relationship among differen