Amasya Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi

Öz

Legends are short narratives told and believed to be true about the creation and end of the world, historical events, supernatural persons and beings, and religious events. In this regard, it was important to compile, examine and transfer studies on legends fort he future generations. In this study, legends about deer were examined. Deer is an important animal in Turkish mythology and culture. The deer’s meat, milk, skin and horns are used, and it is considered sacred and respected by the Turks for its features such as helping and protecting gods, heroes and saints. For this reason, many legends, beliefs and practices about deer have been formed in Anatolia throughout history. Kastamonu and Karabük provinces were among the places where these legends were told. The fact that there are many mosques, lodges and tombs in these regions, especially saints, has brought about many stories. Especially the legends about deers have attracted attention in this sense. Based on this, in the study, legends and beliefs about deer in Kastamonu and Karabük provinces and district were identified and their place in folk culture was analyzed. In the Kastamonu region, “Benli Sultan Tomb”, “Şeyh Abdal Hasan Lodge and Tomb”, “Hepkebirler Mosque”, “Geyikli Mosque”, “Mahmut Bey Mosque”, “Haraçoğlu Mosque and Tomb”, “Şeyh İsmail Rumi Mosque and Lodge” and “Pınarbaşı Geyikli Mosque”; In the Karabük region, religious places such as “Bahattin Gazi (Geyikli Dede Hazretleri)”, “Yazıköy Keşkek Dede Tomb”, “Akçakese Village Mosque”, “Çalışlar Tomb” and “Göğeren Baba Abdullah Efendi Tomb” have been identified. Based on the acquired information, it was observed that the deer, which is considered sacred in Turkish mythology and culture, still has traces in Kastamonu and Karabük regions and maintains its vitality.