Many of Hodja´s jokes are about the daily life in the 15th century Akþehir a town in central Anatolia. In Hodja´s time, Anatolia was under the invasion of the Timurid Empire led by Tamerlane (The Limpy) who was of Turko-Mongolian ancestry. Tamerlane is recognized as one of the mightiest emperors in history. He put an end to the expansion of the Ottoman Empire capturing Sultan Yildirim Bayezid who had himself been at the height of his achievements. As a result of Tamerlane´s invasion of Anatolia, the Ottoman Empire would go through a period marked by the lack of central authority that gave way to the formation of landlords each controlling a part of the Anatolian territory.
Tamerlane had many elephants in his army. Since elephants consume big amounts of food, they were a big liability for the army. He had ordered the animals to be distributed to villages and towns to be fed by the locals. One of the elephants had been sent to Hodja´s village. The appetite of the animal appalled the villagers who could barely feed themselves. When the problem became intolerable, they gathered together to see Hodja asking them to find a solution to the problem.
- Hodja, you know about the problems we are having with this elephant. It is eating up all our harvest.
- Sure I do.
- You are the most educated person in the village who surely knows how to speak eloquently. You can tell Tamerlane about our big complaint and ask him to take away this damn elephant.
-Sure I can but you should come with me too. Don´t expect me to confront him on my own. When he asks whether you really want it to be taken away, you must be there to back me.
Everyone agrees, so they hit the road. On the way to Tamerlane´s palace Hodja turns back and sees that most of the volunteers had departed in fear of their lives. The more they go, the more of them leave and since the word of their visit had gone to Tamerlane there would be no cancelling. In the end, an angry Hodja enters the palace of Temurlane alone. Tamerlane asks:
- Hodja, you´ve come to see me about the elephant. Is there a problem? Is the animal sick or dead? You know this would no go unpunished.
"On the contrary sire!" says Hodja. In fact, we feel so honored by this gift of yours that I have just come to ask for another one.
Edited (7/20/2009) by vineyards
Edited (7/22/2009) by vineyards
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