Deer Motif in Safranbolu District

Turks have lived in close harmony with nature throughout history; animals and their relationships with plants and natural elements have shaped their cultures. Particularly those Turks who adopted a nomadic lifestyle emphasized both material and spiritual dimensions in their attitudes toward animals. In this context, the deer is not merely only a animal but also emerges as a symbol imbued with profound meanings in the Turkish belief system. Its recognition as a sacred entity in Turkish mythology and people beliefs has ensured its enduring status as a important place in Turkish culture throughout history. (ASOBİD, 14)

Artificially generated Turkish motifs and deer imagery

In Turkish, Mongol, and Altai mythologies, a mythological figure known as “Deer Father” exists, regarded as the protector of deer herds. Deer Ata is perceived as a divine being and also considered a sacred creature serving the gods. (Çoruhlu, 2017) For the ancient Turks, the deer was described as a creature possessing many noble qualities—compassionate, benevolent, and helpful—and was even associated with royal dynasties and rulers. This sanctity persisted even after the adoption of Islam; the deer’s place in folk beliefs was reinforced through Sufi stories and miracles. (ASOBİD, 14) For instance, as seen in the miracles of Abdal Musa and Kaygusuz Abdal, the deer is identified with saints and appears in tales as a figure that aids humans.

This sacred role of the deer in Turkish mythology and folk beliefs has rendered harming or hunting it a social taboo. The belief that those who harm deer are cursed and that hunters face great disasters has been transmitted orally within the community. This notion has also found its place in folk literature and written works. Yaşar Kemal’s work titled “The Alageyik Epic” presents this belief as a literary reflection. In the epic, the hero Halil’s obsession with deer hunting and the spiritual consequences he endures emphasize the moral dimensions of harming the deer. (Kemal, Y. 2009)

The presence of the deer in mythological and legendary traditions in Safranbolu and its surroundings highlights the richness of the regional folk culture. The deer legends that emerged within Safranbolu’s natural and cultural fabric form an inseparable part of the region’s historical and cultural identity.

Safranbolu Legends

Safranbolu and its surroundings have been home to various cultures throughout history, and thus the symbolism and legends of the deer in the region reflect the influences of these cultures. The deer, especially in Anatolia mythology and folk tales, is regarded as a sacred animal.

Several local legends concerning deer are told in the vicinity of Safranbolu.

One of these legends recounts the story of a hunter who became lost in the forest and was rescued by a mysterious white deer. The deer led the hunter away from danger and guided him onto a safe path. After this experience, the hunter came to believe in the deer’s sacred nature and warned everyone in the region against harming it.

The deer is also a symbol of nature’s renewal and cyclical rhythm. In Safranbolu and Karabük and their surroundings, the generosity of nature, the fertility of the forests, and the harmony between humans and the natural world are expressed through the figure of the deer. Moreover, the deer’s grace and freedom evoke spiritual freedom and purity in people.

Legends relating to Sufi thought are also told in the Safranbolu region, and the figures mentioned in these tales are regarded as holy persons.

The tombs of saints associated with deer legends researched and identified in the Safranbolu district are as follows:

Bahattin Gazi Türbesi (Geyikli Dede Hazretleri), Yazıköy Keşkek Dede Türbesi, and Göğeren Father Abdullah Efendi Türbesi.

Bahattin Gazi Türbesi (Geyikli Dede)

Bahattin Gazi is regarded as the spiritual founder and owner of the Karabük region. Believed to have arrived in the area approximately three hundred years ago, Bahattin Gazi was a Sufi from Horasan. He settled in what is now the Karabük Mahallesi neighborhood, which consisted of thirteen households. He is associated with legends due to the mosque and bridge he built in Karabük.

According to legend, Bahattin Gazi was a poor shepherd living with his wife in Öğlebeli Village, Karabük. Due to insufficient pasture for his cattle, he requested a bridge to do to access grazing lands on the other side of Vehicle Çayı. Beginning his work, the shepherd attempted to transport felled trees using his limited number of livestock. After a while, exhausted and unable to continue, he prayed to God for assistance to complete the bridge’s construction. God answered his prayer and granted him many deer. At night, the deer carried the logs and helped build the bridge. (ASOBİD, 14) The villagers, unable to comprehend how the bridge was completed so rapidly, kept watch at night. They witnessed the deer loading and transporting the bridge materials. The shepherd, whose miracle was recognized, left his home with a final instruction to his wife: “If I do not return within three days, release my calf.” After two days without his return, his wife released the calf. The calf first stopped at the cemetery, then walked twenty-seven kilometers to Dede Yaylası, where it suddenly fell and died. The place where the calf died is regarded as the site of Bahattin Gazi’s passing. Bahattin Gazi Türbesi remains open to visitors today. (ASOBİD, 14)

Yazıköy Keşkek Dede Türbesi

Yazıköy, located in the Safranbolu district of Karabük, is the most culturally rooted village in the region and the second most populous. Keşkek, the village’s symbol, is the traditional dish served during holidays, weddings, and special occasions. Especially due to the custom of serving keşkek during festivals, visitors have traveled from neighboring environment villages to Yazıköy. Numerous stone oven have been constructed in the village specifically for cooking keşkek, and these ovens are still known locally as “keşkek ovens.” A tomb believed to belong to a local saint named Keşkek Dede is present in the village. Next to the tomb, there is a stone that the local people call the “sacrificial stone.”

According to tradition, Keşkek Dede used to leave keşkek on the sacrificial stone for the deer to eat. In return, the deer assisted him in all his tasks. When the villagers became aware of the saint’s miracles, the deer disappeared and were never seen again. Keşkek Dede passed away shortly thereafter. (ASOBİD, 14)

Artificially generated depiction of Yazıköy Keşkek Dede Türbesi

Göğeren Baba Abdullah Efendi Türbesi

The tomb of Abdullah Efendi, a holy man of God, and his wife is located in the Göğeren Baba Abdullah Efendi Türbesi. Abdullah Efendi is known for his love of deer, his assistance to them, and his protection of them. Abdullah Efendi and his wife were a poor couple who lived in the village and spent most of their time in worship and remembrance of God. They sustained themselves through animal husbandry. At night, the deer descended from the mountains and allowed the couple to milk them. The couple sold the butter and cheese made from the deer’s milk in the market. The villagers became suspicious because they knew the couple owned no dairy animals. They suspected theft and reported the couple to the judge. When Abdullah Efendi and his wife appeared before the judge, they were compelled to reveal their miracles. The judge believed them and declared them innocent. Once the deer’s secret became known to all, they never approached the couple again and vanished from sight. With the loss of the deer’s support, the couple began to suffer hardship. Angered by the villagers who had accused them, the couple uttered a curse: “May God not increase the number of households in this village by even one.” Investigations later confirmed that the curse had taken effect and no new households had been established in the village.

Deer Antlers Hung Outside Houses and Tombs

Because the deer is culturally valued, deer antlers are hung on walls and above doorways in many homes across Anatolia. In tombs, they are also placed for healing purposes. The deer antler symbolizes renewal and immortality. It is believed that touching sick individuals with the antler can bring about healing. (Kumartaşlıoğlu, 2015, p.138) This healing practice is associated with pre-Islamic shamanic traditions, as the deer antler is thought to possess inherent self-renewing and regenerative properties. In addition, legends about the holy figures buried in the tombs are told to explain the meaning of antlers hung outside the tombs. In these tales, the saints are depicted as riding the deer, using it as a mount, and milking it to demonstrate their spiritual authority and prove their sainthood. (Kumartaşoğlu, 2015, p.139) These narratives reinforce the sacred nature of the deer. In Safranbolu homes, deer antlers were also hung on rooftops for good fortune and evil eye, and simultaneously indicated that a hunter resided in the household.