Yazıt Kültür Bilimleri Dergisi

The Bee-Goddess Archetype in the Myth of Shahmaran

Yazıt Kültür Bilimleri Dergisi June 22, 2026 Ünsal Çimen

Shahmaran (or Yamlika), a mythological figure depicted as half-human and half-serpent, holds deep significance in both Iranian and Turkish cultural traditions and functions not merely as a folkloric character but as a complex symbol representing transformation and wisdom. The narrative of Shahmaran can be read as an allegory of spiritual initiation, depicting the hero’s descent into the sacred...