symbol of women’s power
holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, her captivating image adorned the walls of many Kurdish homes – a beautiful painting that exuded pride, creativity, and aesthetics. In the center of the painting, the beauty of a Kurdish woman with the body of a snake mesmerized all who gazed upon it. Fear not, for she is the beauty of beauties – the queen of snakes, Kurdish “Şahmaran” .
The Shahmaran legend traces its origins back to ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, believed to have originated in Mardin. The name Shahmaran comes from the Kurdish words “shah” meaning queen and “maran” meaning snakes. Shahmaran is a mythical creature, half woman and half snake, who lived in a magical underground garden.
Known for her exceptional beauty, kind heart, and good manners, Shahmaran shared her underground dwelling with snakes. Her lower body transformed into that of a snake, while her upper half retained its human form. It is said that Shahmaran’s encounter with a young man named Camşab changed her destiny.
According to the story, Camşab and his companions ventured towards a well filled with honey. They devised a plan for Camşab to descend into the well and retrieve the honey, with the intention of selling it later. However, once Camşab had retrieved the honey, his companions betrayed him, leaving him stranded in the darkness of the well.
In his desperate attempts to escape, Camşab felt the walls of the well but found no way out. Just when he had given up hope, he heard the hissing sounds of approaching snakes. To his surprise, a captivating being with the body of a snake and a beautiful face emerged – a being named Shahmaran. They engaged in conversation, and Shahmaran revealed her wisdom, intelligence, and kindness. Over time, love blossomed between Shahmaran and Camşab, and they lived together in the underground garden.
However, as time went on, Camşab began to yearn for his homeland and expressed his desire to return. Understanding his longing, Shahmaran agreed to let him leave on the condition that he would never reveal her existence to anyone.
Years later, the King of Mardin fell seriously ill, with no cure in sight. It was discovered that the meat of Shahmaran, the queen of snakes, held the remedy. Those who had encountered her were said to bear black spots on their bodies. The king’s guards searched the residents until they found black spots on Camşab’s body. Under threat and torture, Camşab reluctantly revealed Shahmaran’s whereabouts.
Shahmaran was found and brought to the palace, where she shared a profound secret. She proclaimed, “Whoever eats my tail shall gain wisdom and knowledge. Whoever eats my body shall be healed. And whoever eats my head will die.”
Upon hearing her words, the evil minister ordered Shahmaran to be divided into three parts and cooked in the Bath (now famously known as the Shamaran Bath). As the meat simmered, the wicked minister consumed the tail, Camşab, burdened with guilt, devoured the head, and the king consumed the body in search of healing. Shahmaran’s plan unfolded flawlessly – the wicked minister met his death, the king recovered, and Camşab gained all of Shahmaran’s knowledge and secrets, becoming a Luqman of the land.
