The Epic of Manas follows the story of its namesake, his son, and grandson as they fight against their foes in the Central Asian Steppe. The epic is not for the faint of heart, broken into three books following each of its heroes, the Epic is 500,000 lines long! Originally passed down in an oral tradition, the Kyrgyz poem would be recited at Kyrgyz festivals by professionals going by the title of Manaschy. Within the world of professional reciters, the title of Great Manaschy was reserved for those who could recite all three books of the epic. The age of the poem is unknown but some events in the story date back to the 8th century. It would not be until the 18th century when it was first written down. Though an old epic, the story of Manas lives on through various ways in modern Kyrgyz society.   

Today, you can find references to Manas all throughout the country of Kyrgyzstan. In the Ala-Too square of Bishkek, you can find a massive statue of Manas elegantly riding a horse for all to see. Before you can travel to the square, you'll most likely fly through the main airport serving the country, aptly named Manas International Airport. Getting back on a plane, you can fly to Manas, the city, formally renamed from Jalal-Abad in late 2025. If you continue your adventures north, near the town of Talas, you can find a Mausoleum and the supposed burial site of our epic hero. For a deeper dive on all things Manas, you can consult a Manasologist. A title for those studying Manasology, the formal scholarly examination of the epic.