An ashiq, ashik, or ashough ( ašuġ, , ašuġi, , , ) is a mystic bard, balladeer, or troubadour who accompanied his song—be it a hikaye (Persian: dastan, a traditional epic or a romantic tale) or a shorter original composition—with a long necked lute (saz). The modern Azerbaijani ashiq is a professional musician who usually serves an apprenticeship, masters playing saz, and builds up a varied but individual repertoire of Turkic folk songs. The word ashiq عاشق ("in love, lovelorn") is subjective forms derives from ishq عشق (love), related to Avestan iš- "to wish, desire, search". The Turkish term that ashik superseded was . In the early armies of the Turks, as far back as that of Attila, the ruler was invariably accompanied by an . The heroic poems, which they recited to the accompaniment of the kopuz, flattered the sensibilities of an entire people.