Kara Dag

Kara Dag is considered one of the most mysterious places on the Crimean peninsula. It is the only ancient extinct volcano in Eastern Europe that was active in Crimea approximately 120-160 million years ago. The exceptional mountain range is located in the southeastern part of Crimea near the town of Kefe (modern Feodosia).

Perhaps because of its name, Qara Dağ (“Black Mountain”), or perhaps because of its mystical and bizarre appearance, this place has always fascinated with its mystery and fabulousness.

There are multiple legends about the Kara Dag monster composed by the indigenous peoples of Crimea. One of them tells us that in the area of Yulanchyk, between Otuzy and Koktebel, which is adjacent to the northern part of Kara Dag, lived a giant snake with a dog’s head and a horse’s mane, which brought many troubles to the inhabitants of the valley. Khan summoned 500 janissaries from Istanbul, who were supposed to destroy the snake but accidentally left its cubs alive.

There is also an interesting legend about a one-eyed man-eating giant who terrified the locals: “During the day, the giant sleeps, but even his peaceful snoring, like a distant rumble of thunder, frightens the inhabitants of the surrounding villages. When the giant turns in his sleep, the whole mountain moves, and when he sighs, steam comes out of the hole at the top of the mountain. When it gets dark at night, the giant wakes up and gets out of his lair. Glaring menacingly from his one eye, he begins to roar, so that the thunderous echo rolls far across the Crimean Mountains and stops on Ai-Petri.”

The locals sacrificed sheep to him, but the monster was not satisfied: he threw stones at the settlements so it destroyed everything in its path. That is why in autumn when the month of weddings came, a young bride was sacrificed to the monster. People were very afraid of the giant, so they did not dare to resist. But one day, an extremely brave young man decided to overcome the giant.

“It’s beautiful here,” the man thought, looking around, “and I really want to live! But it is better to die in an unequal but fair battle than to suffer because of the voracious monster. Tomorrow he will demand a sacrifice again, and perhaps a bad fate will befall my beloved Elbis.”

The young man sang a song about a lovebird, which the monster heard, so he came out of hiding and asked the young man to sing it again so that the bird would come to him. The young man promised that the next night he would bring him the one that sends love.

The next evening, the young man came to the mountain with his beloved Elbis. At first, she was afraid of the giant, but, guided by love, she went to the edge of the cliff and asked the giant to watch closely as she shot a lovebird, a poisoned arrow, into the giant’s eye.

“Maybe the giant broke its arms and legs falling, or maybe the hole collapsed, but it remained in the mountain and could no longer get out to take revenge on the people.”

The bad weather raged over the peninsula all night long, and the locals hid in their homes in fear. However, in the morning, the storm subsided, and the Black Sea gently washed the coastal cliffs.

“People were walking along the shore, collecting colourful pebbles and admiring the wild beauty of the giant’s dead kingdom. And whoever wanted to hear his voice would come to two rocks that leaned against each other and formed an arch, and shouted:

“Hey, giant!”

“I’m here!” the echo answered.

Sources:

1. Кара-Даг.

2. «Кара-Даг – чорна гора – легенда Криму».

Article by Esma Ametova, Daria Piskun, Olena Sudak