"He gained possession of the Sun and Horses,
Indra obtained the Cow who feedeth many.
Treasure of gold he won;
he smote the Dasyus (black),
and gave protection to the Aryan (white) color."
-RgVeda Samhita 3.034.09 https://t.co/j51ByF8x6F
𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙙 𝙔𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙨
The yurt is a traditional structure used by nomadic peoples in the Asian steppes since prehistoric times. The yurts in Central Asia have been a defining feature of life for at least two and a half thousand years. These traditional structures provided a practical housing solution, especially for equestrian nomadic peoples.
The popularity of yurts eventually spread beyond Central Asia. During the height of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, yurts were introduced to some regions of Europe and the Middle East. Marco Polo's writings include references to the use of yurts in the court of Kublai Khan. This indicates that yurts not only remained confined to Central Asia but also facilitated cultural exchanges between different cultures in Europe and the Middle East. Yurts have been embraced in these regions as both a practical and aesthetically appealing structure.
During the Mongol Empire (1206-1368) and before, the outer layer of the yurt tent was made up of felt layers created from traditional beaten sheep wool. (Sheep wool is crushed, and the microscopic hooks in the fibers interlock, creating a strong fabric.) The wool from Mongolian sheep was not suitable for weaving, and this felt was used for many purposes, such as making clothing and blankets. The felt was later made waterproof by adding sheep's milk or fat. This process also improved the material's insulation properties and protected the wool from weather conditions. Today, it is possible to find the use of different alternative materials instead of this felt.
Felt or substitute material is stretched over a wooden hoop and a wooden lattice frame. The outer walls are sometimes decorated with embroidered geometric designs or local plant and animal motifs. The very center of the roof is left open for light to enter and for smoke from the stove inside the yurt to escape – considering that the fuel burned is often dried dung bricks, this is not hard to see as a sensible design. The flat top of the yurt has proven to be a useful place for nomadic cheese to be fermented and stored in the wind and sun. The door and door frame of the tent – typically oriented to face south – are made of wood, and the tent may also have a wooden base. Yurt sizes vary, and those used in the Middle Ages and earlier were likely much larger than those typically inhabited by a single small family today.