Monument to Kultigin inscription, Ichthys, Jesus' fish

Central Asia Museums, National Museum of Kazakhstan, Astana

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Monument to Kultigin inscription included a fish-like symbol similar to the Jesus fish.

Monument to Kultigin

The monument was opened in 1889 in the Kosho-Tsaidam tract on the banks of Komnin-Orkhon in Mongolia.

Kultigin is a political and military leader of the Second Khanate, co-ruler of Bilge Kagan and a son of KutlugElterish Kagan. He became famous as a heroic warrior and the one who participated in many military campaigns to ensure the hegemony of the Turks in Central Asia. Kultigin died on the 47th year of his life, 27 February 731.

The stele with the inscription id in the form of a truncated pyramid, with height of 3.15 m, with width at the base 1.24 m and thickness of 0.41 m. Upper plate is carved in the shape of a pentagonal shield enclosed in images of dragons. On one side of the shield there is a Kagan tamga; on the other side - the Chinese inscription containing the date of construction of the monument - Autust 1, 732. To the right of the Chinese inscription here are two carved lines of runic letters, which are calligraphically inferior to the main text.

It is the monument of the turkic runic writing of the 8th century. It contains valuable historical information and is fertile in linguistic material.

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Monument to Kultigin inscription included a fish-like symbol

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Source:  Astana, Kazakhstan