The study aimed to establish the typological commonality of archaic motifs reflected in the epic traditions of Turkic-speaking peoples. The study used comparative-historical analysis and a structural method and was based on a textual analysis of primary sources and drew upon data from folklore studies, ethnography, and history. The analysis revealed key archaic motifs that retained stability across different epic traditions, including the miraculous birth of the hero, prophecy of his fate, captivity and trials, struggle against external enemies, journeys to the otherworld, and tests of loyalty. The analysis of mythological structures showed that Turkic epics preserved a three-tiered model of the universe (earthly, celestial, and subterranean worlds), within which the hero interacted with ancestral spirits and supernatural forces. In certain epics, the central theme was the unification of the people and the building of statehood; in others, it was military valour, battles against enemies, and individual heroic deeds. In several traditions, collective forms of heroism appeared, with groups of characters playing the central role. In the epic traditions of nomadic peoples, motifs of campaigns, migrations, and struggles for power predominated, whereas in the epics of sedentary peoples, there was greater influence from interethnic contacts, diplomacy, and ethical reflections. Within the character system, alongside warrior-heroes appeared wise rulers, women-strategists, and collective defenders, underlining the multi-layered nature of epic tradition. The findings of this study may be applied in the study of folklore poetics and in higher education curricula devoted to folklore, mythology, and epic traditions.