Bob Posted May 18, 2006 Posted May 18, 2006 Just returned from 2.5 weeks of travelling in the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Turkmenistan.Picked up a book their containing pictures + background info on all post-Soviet Turkmenistan awards (i.e. all from the Saparmurat Niyazov "dictatorship" era). If anyone is interested, let me know and I can provide info.Unfortunately, not a lot of awards to be found in Turkmenistan itself. Did visit some museums which contained awards from, for instance, Heros of Soviet Union... but generally reminders of the Soviet era have been wiped away in the country. Even at the big Tolkuchke bazaar outside Ashgabat I was rather disappointed... mainly low end motherhood medals to be found Hopefully more luck when I travel to Moscow and subsequently Caucasus in several months.Kind regards,Bob
Guest Rick Research Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 I assume the book is IN Turkmen, which will be as "interesting" trying to figure out as Mongolian!
Bob Posted May 19, 2006 Author Posted May 19, 2006 I assume the book is IN Turkmen, which will be as "interesting" trying to figure out as Mongolian!The book is in Turkmen WITH English translation fortunately:)It's nice to see that all medals have the president (or his mother) depicted on it:)Apart from one, the new highest medal (instituted after publication of the book) which I saw in the National Museum. If I recall correctly it's the Order of Rukhnama. Rukhnama is a book written by the president. An important book which every Turkmen must have and you must do an exam in the book in order to proceed in your education. To quote the president: "The Koran is Allah's book, but Rukhnama is a holy book".
Chuck In Oregon Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 I seem to vaguely recall that the Turkmenbashi changed the names of the days and months to his names and those of his family. As in, "I'll be back on Fred, the 15th of Johnny." Also, that he had built the largest gold statue in the world. Does that sound close to correct?I know that he wears a large black diamond ring. A friend of mine gave it to him. I have occasionally run with some darn big dogs for an old country boy from Oregon. Go figure.I'm outa here in, let's see, make it 9-1/2 hours.Chuck
Bob Posted May 19, 2006 Author Posted May 19, 2006 I seem to vaguely recall that the Turkmenbashi changed the names of the days and months to his names and those of his family. As in, "I'll be back on Fred, the 15th of Johnny." Also, that he had built the largest gold statue in the world. Does that sound close to correct?I know that he wears a large black diamond ring. A friend of mine gave it to him. I have occasionally run with some darn big dogs for an old country boy from Oregon. Go figure.I'm outa here in, let's see, make it 9-1/2 hours.ChuckDon't know if statue is the largest... but indeed, there's statues / posters of him EVERYWHERE and the statues are all gold colored. In the main city Ashgabat there is a large gold statue on top of a building in the center of the city. The statue turns around automatically to ensure that Turkmenbashy is always facing the sun
Guest Rick Research Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 "The statue turns around automatically to ensure that Turkmenbashy is always facing the sun"That's scary!What do they do at night? Or when it rains? Or....
Dave Danner Posted May 19, 2006 Posted May 19, 2006 I assume the book is IN Turkmen, which will be as "interesting" trying to figure out as Mongolian!Turkmen is a Turkic language, and belongs to the same group as Tatar. Thus, unlike the eastern Turkic languages like Kazakh and Uzbek, Turkmen is not radically different from Turkish. Most of the base vocabulary is the same or close, e.g.:one - bir in both languagestwo - iki in both languagesthree - ?? in both languagesfour - d?rt in both languagesfive - b?ş in Turkmen, beş in Turkishsix - alty in Turkmen, altı in Turkishseven - ?edi in Turkmen, yedi in Turkisheight - sekiz in both languagesnine - dokuz in both languagesten - on in both languagesyear - ?yl in Turkmen, yıl or sene in Turkishmonth - a? in Turkmen, ay in Turkishday - g?n in both languagesMilitary vocabulary, however, is mostly not of Turkic origin, but is made up heavily of Russian loanwords, e.g.: general - general colonel - polkownik major - ma?or captain - kapitan lieutenant - le?tenant sergeant - ser?ant or serzhantcorporal - kapral (ki?i komandir is also used, meaning "junior commander")private - r?adowo? (from Russian рядовой)soldier - esger (cf. Turkish asker) or soldat division - divisi?abrigade - brigadaregiment - polk company - kampani?a or rotaplatoon - wzwod (from Russian взвод)Some are a mix: medal - medal or nyşan badge - nyşanaward - ba?rak (bayrak in modern Turkish means flag or standard)
Chris S Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 On the sunject of Turkmenistan, here is an early Turkmenistan-Siberian Railway badge.....
Chuck In Oregon Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 Wow, that's a really nice Turk-Sib RR badge. First one I've ever seen. Did you find that one in the wild? That is a nice piece for any advanced Soviet RR collection.Chuck
Chris S Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 Hi Chuck...I was down town and this guy just pulls it out of his pocket...eyes popped out...er yes please I said...Chris
Chris S Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 This is another hard to find railway badge...Honoured Railwayman in Silver...
Chuck In Oregon Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 Yeah, I know, off topic ... butI know I've got a silver Honored Railwayman example around here somewhere, but I can't seem to put my finger on it right now. I saw one for sale in Tbilisi the other day for -- are you sitting down? -- $200 firm. I passed.Meanwhile, here's a modest NKPC-MPC documented set. This is one of the very few documented sets that I have ever come across. It's even more interesting, to me at least, that it spans the Narkomat-Ministry time periods. This guy liked the nickle-plated look, I guess. I once thought I'd collect the Soviet RR theme, but then I guess I lost interest in it, at least to the extent that it came behind my other interests. I know that it's a pretty popular and interesting theme to study and collect. I even have an enamel Soviet RR sign on one of my desks here.Say, do we not have a RR badges thread around here somewhere? If not, we should.Will it put us back on-topic if I write "Turkmenistan" somewhere? Just thought I'd ask. I apologize for stepping on the topic here.Chuck
Chris S Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 (edited) Off topic is good...I always view threads as twists any way....200 US for a silver variation....they are going for 1500 + on Russian sites...http://www.mirnagrad.ru/cgi-bin/catalogue....asket=348238702Check out that Edited May 21, 2006 by Chris S
Chuck In Oregon Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 Off topic is good...I always view threads as twists any way....200 US for a silver variation....they are going for 1500 + on Russian sites...http://www.mirnagrad.ru/cgi-bin/catalogue....asket=348238702Check out that* * * * *1500 y.e. ... is that dollars??!! Euros??!! If it is, I can still get that example in Tbilisi if I want it. I just never thought I would. Dang, I never thought things would go so high. Good if you're selling, horrible if you're buying. Guess I'll look for my example here at home a little harder now.
Chris S Posted May 21, 2006 Posted May 21, 2006 (edited) * * * * *1500 y.e. ... is that dollars??!! Euros??!! If it is, I can still get that example in Tbilisi if I want it. I just never thought I would. Dang, I never thought things would go so high. Good if you're selling, horrible if you're buying. Guess I'll look for my example here at home a little harder now.It is Dollars Edited May 21, 2006 by Chris S
Bob Posted May 27, 2006 Author Posted May 27, 2006 Here's front of the book... all awards have Niyazov's buste on it (how humble of him!). Awards are generally not very tastefully design but taste differs I guess:)
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Hello! I will try to give some description of Turkmenistan award system.HERO OF TURKMENISTAN / T?RKMENISTANYN GAHRYMANYMEDAL "GOLDEN CRESCENT" / "ALTYN AY" MEDALYInstituted in 1999. This is highest state award.On the reverse inscription ?Altyn Ay? Turkmenistanyn Medaly? and number.
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Order ?The First President of Turkmenistan Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashi? / ?Turkmenistanyn Ilkinji Prezidenti Beyik Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy? OrdeniAwarded for merits only to superior functionarities of foreign countries. Made of 750 gold. In the centre of badge is green map of Turkmenistan, head of Niyazov and Monument of Independence. Around inscription ?TURKMENISTANYN ILKINJI PREZIDENTI BEYIK SAPARMYRAT TURKMENBASY? ORDENI?.
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Order ?Homeland? / ?Watan? OrdeniInstituted on July 2007. Awarded only to the Turkmen presidents.Made of gold with 55 carat diamonds. Total weight ? 925 grams.
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) President with Order "Watan". Strange that there is some difference between collar badges. Edited October 15, 2008 by IVB
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Order "President's Star" / "Prezidentin Yyldyzy" OrdeniAwarded for outstanding merits.Badge made of gold, bar made of silver gilt. On the reverse inscription ?Turkmenistanyn ?Prezidentin Yyldyzy? ordeni?.
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Order "Neutrality" / "Bitaraplyq" OrdeniAwarded for great contributions to the neutrality of the country, achievements in science, economic and so on.Made of gold with red shade. Diameter 40 mm.
IVB Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Order "For Love to Independent Turkmenistan" / "Garaşsyz T?rkmenistana bolan beyik soyg?si ?ciň" OrdeniAwarded for merits in different spheres.Made of gold, diameter 40 mm.
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