Shahmaran

Shahmaran is a mythical creature, half-woman and half-snake, originating in the Armenian, Indo-Iranian and Turkic folklores. Etymology The name Shāhmārān comes from the Persian words Shāh (شاه), and mārān (; 'snakes'; مار mar). Hence, the name Shāhmārān literally means 'the king of snakes'. Description Shahmaran is a mythical creature, half-snake and half-woman, portrayed as a dual-headed creature with a crown on each head, possessing a human female head on one end, and a snake's head on the other, possibly representing a phallic figure. The human part is also decorated with a large necklace. Mythological accounts Shahmaran is attested in Middle Eastern literature, such as in the tale "The Story of Yemliha: An Underground Queen" from the 1001 Arabian Nights, and in the Camasb-name. Her story seems to be present in the Eastern part of the Anatolian peninsula, or in southeastern and eastern Turkey (comprising areas of Kurd, Arab, Assyrian and Turkish communities).