Aq Ana belongs to the oldest layer of Turkic mythology, and, as a result, the oldest layer of Turkic culture. In fact, she is the oldest of the Turkic pantheon, not including Taŋrı, who is absent following the beginning of creation. She is often represented by a seagull or a white partridge, both of which are referred to as aqana in various Turkic languages. Her name comes from Turkic *ɑːq “white,” and Turkic *ɑnɑː “mother.”