The Legend of Şahmaran has been an enduring tale in Anatolia for years. Similar serpent-woman legends can be found in various mythologies, notably in Greek mythology with the likes of Medusa. The origin of the Şahmaran legend is in the district of Tarsus, Mersin. Şahmaran (sometimes spelled Şahmeran) is a word of Persian origin, meaning 'Queen of Snakes' (Şah-ı Meran).
Legend of Şahmaran
Years ago in Tarsus, deep beneath the ground, there lived peaceful snakes led by their queen, Meran. Meran, also known as Şahmaran, is a being with a human upper body and a serpent lower body. While often described as a snake-bodied woman, some sources depict Şahmaran as male.
During that era, a poor villager named Cemşab and his friends came across a well filled with honey in the forest. They lowered Cemşab into the well to retrieve the honey. In the end, his friends left him stranded at the bottom of the well, hoping to keep more honey for themselves. Cemşab couldn't climb out and found himself trapped. He cried for help, but his voice went unheard. Then, he saw a light at the bottom of the well and started digging towards it. Suddenly, he found himself face to face with Şahmaran. Şahmaran lived in a magnificent garden with various beauties and wondrous fruits.
Cemşab had never seen such a beautiful garden in his entire life. In the garden, there was a pool, and by the pool stood Şahmaran, a woman with a human head, fair skin, and a serpent's body. The area around the pool was filled with snakes. Şahmaran welcomed Cemşab and reassured him, saying, 'Welcome, human. Do not fear, those around you will not harm you.'
Then, Şahmaran offered various treats to Cemşab and asked about his origins and his story. Cemşab recounted his tale at length. He gained Şahmaran's trust. From then on, Cemşab lived with Şahmaran in that garden for years.
Years later, Cemşab implored Şahmaran, 'Please let me go, I miss my family dearly.' Şahmaran agreed, but made Cemşab promise not to visit the bathhouse. She warned that if anyone who had seen her went to the bathhouse, their body would be covered in scales, revealing her secret. She also insisted that Cemşab keep the garden's location and her own whereabouts a secret. Cemşab agreed and returned to his home.
Cemşab was reunited with his family and kept the secret. He never visited the bathhouse. However, as the years passed, the king of the region fell ill, and his vizier convinced him that the cure lay in eating Şahmaran's flesh. Believing this, the king ordered the entire population to gather at the bathhouse. Though Cemşab resisted going, he was forcibly taken, and when he entered the bathhouse, his body became covered in scales, revealing Şahmaran.
Subsequently, they subjected Cemşab to various tortures to force him to reveal Şahmaran's location. Unable to bear the pain, Cemşab eventually disclosed the secret, and the well was excavated to capture Şahmaran.
When Şahmaran was confronted again, she said to Cemşab, 'See, human, how ungrateful you are. In the end, you betrayed me, but I was also deceived.' Nonetheless, she still helped Cemşab, advising him, 'My flesh will be turned into water. You must give the first water to the vizier, but do not let him drink it. Drink the second one yourself, and feed my flesh to the king.'
Cemşab followed Şahmaran's advice. He gave the first water to the vizier, drank the second one, and fed Şahmaran's flesh to the king. The vizier died, the king recovered, and he appointed Cemşab as his vizier.
The Şahmaran legend continues, foretelling that when the serpents learn of Şahmaran's death, they will overrun Tarsus. While Şahmaran is most closely associated with Tarsus, different versions of this folk legend can also be found in the Mardin and Çukurova regions.
Through this legend, Şahmaran is believed to be a creature capable of healing any ailment. Some sources suggest that Lokman the healer, not Cemşab, was the first human to encounter Şahmaran. It's said that Lokman found her injured in the forest, took her to the palace, and healed her. According to the Şahmaran tale, this being was exceptionally knowledgeable in the field of medicine and was a kind-hearted, peaceful soul.
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