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The Mythological Symbol: Mount Ida

The Mythological Symbol: Mount Ida

The Mythological Symbol: Mount Ida


The Mythological Symbol: Mount Ida

Where philosophy and literature meet, there are undoubtedly mythological symbols. Thousands of mythical stories travel through each city. Mount Ida is the best example of these. The mountain is located in Balikesir, Turkey. Mount Ida, also known as Kaz Mountains, consists of Dede Mountain in the west, Eybek Mountain in the east, Kaz Mountain in the middle of Gürgen Mountain, and Kocakatran Mountain in the northeast. But Mount Ida, which is home to legends, consists of three hills. These are Sarıkız, Babadağ and Karataş hills. Mount Ida, whose highest point is 1774 meters, actually consists of more than one mountain.

Mount Ida in Greek Mythology

Ida, the birthplace of Zeus in Greek mythology, is the mountain region in question. Ida, the birthplace of Zeus in Greek mythology, is the mountain region in question. The beauty contest between the three goddesses in mythology is held on this mountain. Paris, which is said to lead to war in the prophecies, is appointed as the referee for this competition. When Paris was born, she was left on Mount Ida by her father because she was described as 'destructive' by a fortune teller and was left to die. He chooses Aphrodite in the competition and wins the golden diamond. In the following years, Paris kidnaps Helene who is the wife of Sparta King and starts the Trojan War, so the city gets destroyed, and the prophecy comes true. Ida, who gives belonging to everyone from the supreme god Zeus to the shepherd Paris, has an important place in mythology.

Mount Ida in Turkish Myth

There are two legends of the mountain in Turkish myth. The first legend tells the story of a country girl. She is slandered by those she refuses to marry. The villagers come to the door to kill the girl. The father can't hurt his daughter, so he takes his daughter to the mountain with a goose. Months later, the villagers disappear on the mountain, and Sarıkız helps them like a ghost. Later, the agonizing father goes to see his daughter, seeing that he has turned the saltwater into drinking water with the light from his hands. The father, who cursed the villagers, dies in pain. Babadağ Hill is the place where he died, and the mountain is called Kaz Mountain due to the goose accompanying Sarıkız.

The other legend is known by the Turkmen villages. Hasan and Emine are two young people in love with each other. The girl's father gives Hasan a difficult task on Mount Ida as a condition for their marriage. Hasan, who begins to climb the mountain with the load on his back, faints with fatigue. When there is no news from Hasan, Emine searches everywhere for him. Seeing the scarf she gave to Hasan in the lake, Emine thinks her loved one is dead and hangs herself on a plane tree. For this reason, Mount Ida is also known as the mountain that does not connect.