Aṣlī and Karam (Kerem ile Aslı in Turkish), the name of an old romance narrated in various versions in the popular culture and literature of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey and various Central Asian countries.

The tale of Aṣlī and Karam came into being in the beginning of 10th/16th century, and has since spread among the peoples of the Caucasus, Central Asia and Anatolia. Yet, some scholars maintain that this legend is originally from Azerbaijan (Azarbayjan, 4/235). According to certain scholars, the beloved (Aṣlī) and the lover (Karam) of the story lived at the end of t…