Stone Stele 43 (Kyzyl-Ciiyraa)

The inscription on a large four-sided column of dark-grey sandstone, the height is 184 cm, the width is 45 cm and the thickness 13 sm. It was discovered on the right bank of the upper Yenisei. In the place Kyzyl-Ciiyraa, in the 50 km to the west from Kyzyl. first it was published by S. Malov (1936). Then Batmanova - A. Kunaa, Shcherbakov (1964). It was fixed by D. Vasilyev. it is a rare stele among Yenisei monuments, in which the writing is directed from the top to the bottom. The left line informatively and formally (as written in larger letters, especially the first word), is uniquely determined as the initial one.

Characteristic of the text

The monument in the honor of the Kyrgyz khan; it was erected, judging by the line on the side, by his younger brother. Who also said that the deceased was forty-two years. The main part of the text on a wide side, where the tamga (the sign of the kin) is placed. Is the words of the khan saying farewell to his people, sons and wives. Next is some profound tirade that grammatically sups away from us: it seems that khan, by the reason of his prowess, fought with the (entire) army of some beg chor; what is said in the phrase-counterpoint is not clear, maybe it has the following meaning: for the sake of the all property khan was not trying to shoot with arrow at least one enemy soldier, the courage and bravery, but not mercantile interests had primary importance in the life of khan.

Translation

Oh, my people, oh. my sons, oh my wives,

I am parted, I am separated (from you), how sad, how sorrowful, I am parted!

For my prowess of husband-warrior (1 fought) with the army of beg chor

For the all property (I didn’t shoot) with arrow (any) warrior-husband (enemy) Oh...

The age of my khan - my elder brother (was) forty two (fifty two) years. - how sorry I am!...