In
Turkic mythology
Turkic mythology refers to myths and legends told by the Turkic people. It features Tengrism, Tengrist and Shamanism in Central Asia, Shamanist strata of belief along with many other social and cultural constructs related to the nomadic and wa ...
, Chesma İyasi (Turkish: ''Çeşme İyesi'' or ''Bulak İyesi'' or ''Pınar İyesi'') was a cat-shaped spirit who lurked in
well
A well is an excavation or structure created on the earth by digging, driving, or drilling to access liquid resources, usually water. The oldest and most common kind of well is a water well, to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The ...
s or
fountain
A fountain, from the Latin "fons" ( genitive "fontis"), meaning source or spring, is a decorative reservoir used for discharging water. It is also a structure that jets water into the air for a decorative or dramatic effect.
Fountains were o ...
s and tempted youths to their deaths. As a female spirit that resides in water, she can be seen as a type of
naiad
In Greek mythology, the naiads (; ), sometimes also hydriads, are a type of female spirit, or nymph, presiding over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of fresh water.
They are distinct from river gods, who embodied ...
.
Chesma İyasi were seen as dangerous due to their jealous tendencies. They were said to assume many different shapes, including that of a human, fish or fairy. Their usual form is that of a beautiful woman with the tail of a fish. When they are in human form, they can be recognised by the wet hem of their clothes.
Kuyu İyesi is a type of Çeşme İyesi. Unlike the Çeşme İyesi, they are benevolent spirits who protect the wells in which they make their homes.
See also
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Mermaid
In folklore, a mermaid is an aquatic creature with the head and upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. Mermaids appear in the folklore of many cultures worldwide, including Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
Mermaids are ...
*
Nymph
A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...
*
List of Turkic mythological figures
References
External links
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Tatar Mitolojisinde Varlıklar, Çulpan Zaripova(Çeşme İyesi)
Female legendary creatures
İye
Water spirits
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