TÜRK HALK KÜLTÜRÜNDE YILAN VE BU BAĞLAMDA “YILAN KALE”YE DAİR ANLATMALAR ÜZERİNE DEĞERLENDİRMELER

Abstract

Snake takes place in Turkish folk culture with its various features, beliefs and symbolic meanings. Seen in almost every field of folklore, from mythology to legends and to folk medicine, snake also draws attention with some of its symbolic features in the cultures of other nations. Snake, which is seen to have a mysterious strength in mythology, refers to such symbolic meanings as luck, health, welfare (regarding the symbol of two snakes embracing one another), protective spirit, vitality, youth, immortality, eternity, resurrection and desire that leads people to evilness, in general. Various beliefs have also occurred about "Snake Castle", located between Misis and Ceyhan in Adana and also known as "Shahmeran Castle" among people, in relation to the snake. According to the myth, Shahmeran, a mythological animal, lived in this castle. According to another myth, the inside of the castle is full of snakes, feeding on milk. In this study, after information about beliefs related to snake (protecting against "nazar", bringing rain, casting a spell, being accepted as a protective spirit according to Old Turkish faith, its falling in love with girls/brides, etc.), its place in folk medicine and the symbolic meanings of snake are given, the narrations about "Snake Castle" will be discussed.