1.12.2023
5 Dakika
In the historic Harput neighborhood of Elazığ, there is a majestic castle built on the rocky cliffs that dates back to the 8th century BC, the time of the Urartians. The castle, which has been watching the horizon for hundreds of years in the solitude of the hill where it is located, looks like a guardian that has not lost anything from its glory in time and has been standing tall under the sovereignty of many states that have dominated the region throughout history.
Harput Castle witnessed Persian, Byzantian, Turkish (during Anatolian Beyliks era), Seljuk, and Ottoman reigns, and underwent a major restoration by the Artuqids, which had provided most of its parts with the structural durability that helped it survive to this day. The castle, whose outer walls have been completely destroyed, is home to a hospital, granary, mint, cistern, armory, and a mosque, as well as many civilian buildings. Apart from all these properties, the folk legends about the castle, standing in all its glory in a steep region that is difficult to besiege, are also very interesting. The locals of the area had even ascribed to the castle the name “Milk Castle”, because of one such legend. Let us share this legend that will take you back to the first decades of the castle.
According to the legend, when the foundation of the Harput Castle was laid and construction began, there was a serious water shortage in the region. While the inhabitants could hardly find water for their personal use, it was impossible to reserve the water needed to mix the mortar for the construction of the castle walls. As the ruler who commissioned the construction was trying to find a solution to the situation, the large number of milk-giving animals he owned seemed like a good alternative. The ruler gave the orders and the mortar of the castle was mixed with the milk of these animals. The castle, whose mortar is thought to be mixed with milk, came to be known as Milk Castle among the people, and the white color and strength of its walls has been attributed to this rumor.
Although this is the most well-known legend about the Harput Castle, the stories told by the local people about the structure that have kept a watch over them from on top of the hill throughout their lives are not limited to this one. Among the people in the region, there is a common belief that the castle, rumored to have many tunnels, hides a mysterious secret. It is said that deep within one of these tunnels, a copper jug is suspended from the ceiling by just a single strand of a hair, and when the hair eventually snaps, causing the jug to fall to the ground, it is believed that the entire castle will collapse. In their perception, the Harput Castle is such a strong structure that even a huge jug will not shake enough to snap a hair, and that perhaps the castle will stand upright until the end of time.
Another legend that points to how Harput Castle has an image of robustness in the local people is also related to the rumored tunnels of the castle and to the signs of the doomsday. According to the legend, in one of the caverns under the castle, a beautiful girl lives surrounded by many treasures. This girl, who is cursed to forever sleep on a golden throne, opens her eyes once a year and asks the following questions:
"Has the Milk Castle collapsed?”
"Did the mules give birth to colts?"
"Is the Dere bathhouse still standing?"
According to the legend, this girl falls asleep again right after asking these questions. The locals firmly believe that when the events mentioned in these questions take place, the world will come to an end and the doomsday will be upon us all. This rumor is so widespread that there are even claims that some locals hear the voice of this girl from time to time. It is possible to say that this story is directly related to the strong image of Harput Castle in the minds of the local people. After all, the Milk Castle is believed to be perishable only under apocalyptic circumstances.
Consider embarking on a journey to Elazığ to see this magnificent structure, which has been standing tall for hundreds of years in the historic Harput neighborhood, and has gained such importance that the local people cannot imagine the view of their hometown without it, and has spun many legends in its name. During this visit, you can venture close to the castle walls, where you can try to guess whether the mortar used in their construction had actually been mixed with milk, and you might even hear the beautiful girl’s voice, asking, "Has the Milk Castle collapsed?" to understand whether the world’s end is drawing near.
