History and the Home in the *Damdam* Epic: A Heideggerian Perspective

Abstract

In the traditional view, language is perceived merely as a tool for conveying information, while history is understood as a sequence of successive events. Martin Heidegger, however, transcends this perspective, presenting language as the "house of Being" and viewing literature as the creator of history. Through an analytical approach, this study explores how a literary work—such as the epic poem "Damdam"—can establish the history of a nation and preserve its identity. From a Heideggerian standpoint, language is not simply an instrument employed by humans; rather, humans dwell within language. Consequently, the history of any nation is, in its essence, the history of its language. As language evolves, so too does our understanding of history. In the words of Heidegger, "Language speaks, not man." Viewed through this lens, an event such as "Damdam" is, before being a historical or military occurrence, a linguistic event of profound significance. Heidegger further distinguishes between the history of factual events and the history of Being, positing that true history resides in those moments when truth (*Aletheia*) is revealed. Within this framework, the epic of "Damdam" does more than recount events; it unveils a deeper truth and embodies national identity. The study concludes that language and literature play a fundamental role in the construction and preservation of history, and that a literary work possesses the capacity to transform a transient, temporal event into an enduring and eternal phenomenon.