What is Gulyabani? Anatolia's Most Terrifying Folkloric Creature

Imagine a creature wandering among graveyards on dark nights, confusing those who follow it with its backward feet, terrifying people with its hairy body and horrific smell. If you immediately thought “jinn” at the backward feet part, you’d be wrong. Gulyabani, one of the most horrifying figures in Anatolian/Mesopotamian mythology, has been a cornerstone of our horror culture for centuries with legends told throughout Anatolia.

Though this name, born from the combination of “gul” (غول) (monster) that passed from Arabic to Persian, and the Persian word “biyaban” (بيابان) (desert, desolate place), translates to meanings like desert monster/werewolf, it has taken on an entirely different identity in Turkish folklore.

According to Mehmet Berk Yaltırık’s work “Gulyabani in Turkish Culture – Studies / Illustrations,” citing Orhan Hançerlioğlu, Gulyabani is a creature rooted in Arab culture that can take any form, deceiving and even eating people. As Yaltırık also notes, it is believed that a type of jinn called “Gul” misleads people on their paths, then attacks and tears them apart, and at night enters graves to eat human corpses.

Definition and Origin of Gulyabani

Gulyabani’s roots extend back to pre-Islamic Persian mythology. This creature, called غول بيابان (Gul-i Beyabani) in Persian, was initially depicted as a monster living in deserts and attacking travelers. Over time, this legend spread to the Arab world, probably along with Islamic culture, and from there to Anatolia.

Each region added characteristics reflecting its own fears and beliefs to Gulyabani. Thus, in Anatolia, Gulyabani emerged from the deserts and became an entity that could now be seen in many conceivable places: the countryside, graveyards, mountains.

Similar creatures known as “Ghul” in Arab folklore frequently appear in the Arabian Nights tales. However, the Turkish version differs from the Arab and Persian versions with its own characteristic features. The Turkish Gulyabani encountered in popular culture has more humanoid characteristics and typically uses physical force rather than deception and trickery.

Physical Characteristics of Gulyabani

Although Gulyabani’s appearance varies by region, certain fundamental characteristics can be mentioned. As we commonly encounter in today’s popular jinn narratives, its feet are said to be backward. As depicted in the famous film “Süt Kardeşler,” it’s also portrayed as very tall with an extremely long beard. Its body is said to be covered head to toe in fur and hair, and it reeks terribly. There are also narratives of it appearing disguised as a woman. (See: Turkish Mythology Encyclopedic Dictionary – Celal Beydilli)

Habitat and Behavioral Patterns in Gulyabani Legends

Gulyabani’s most preferred locations are abandoned places where people don’t frequent. Graveyards are ideal habitats for it. During the day, it hides in graveyards, especially old and neglected ones. Ruins, desolate areas, and abandoned village houses are also among the places Gulyabani makes its home.

Deserts and desolate plains are considered Gulyabani’s original habitat. In the Arabian Nights tales, the creature called Ghoul, which we mentioned might be Gulyabani’s origin, appears as a flesh-eating creature that hunts men chasing lust by disguising itself as attractive women.

Gulyabani in Literature and Cinema

Gulyabani’s most important place in Turkish literature is in Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar’s novel of the same name, written in 1912. This work, while criticizing superstitious beliefs, was the piece that – most likely – permanently embedded the Gulyabani figure in popular culture.

In the novel, a young woman named Muhsine starts working as a servant in a mysterious mansion outside the city to earn a living. The mysterious events in the mansion and the fear of Gulyabani are actually the machinations of malicious people.

The 1976 film “Süt Kardeşler,” directed by Ertem Eğilmez and adapted from Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar’s Gulyabani novel for cinema, led many of us to our first terrifying encounter with the “Gulyabani” figure on television – along with the giant octopus in Tarkan Viking Blood. The film, starring Kemal Sunal and Şener Şen, became perhaps Yeşilçam’s only horror-comedy example through its use of the Gulyabani theme.

In modern Turkish horror cinema, Gulyabani remained in the shadow of jinn-magic films. Apart from the 2014 horror-comedy film titled “Gulyabani,” directed by Orçun Benli and featuring Cüneyt Arkın, Gulyabani isn’t mentioned in domestic horror films.

Another example where Gulyabani surprisingly appeared in popular culture is a song and music video from Aylin Aslım’s 2005 album of the same name. Though I love both the song and the video, the choice of “Gülyabani” instead of “Gulyabani” as the title has always cooled me toward the song a bit. We can’t know whether it’s a mistake or a preference.

If you want to learn more about Gulyabani’s place in folklore, literary sources, and popular culture, you can also check out the book “Gulyabani in Turkish Culture – Studies / Illustrations” by Mehmet Berk Yaltırık, Seçkin Sarpkaya, and Ömer Faruk Yazıcı.

Gulyabani vs Other Terrifying Anatolian Creatures

Among Anatolia’s terrifying beings, Gulyabani holds an important place. As I mentioned in another section of the article, since it can sometimes appear disguised as a woman, Alkarısı-albastı comes to mind as the first comparable entity. Compared to Albastı, while Albastı mainly targets women in childbed, Gulyabani can attack anyone. While it’s possible to drive away Al Basty with certain rituals, escaping from Gulyabani is more difficult.

It shares similarities with Karakoncolos. Both appear on winter nights and deceive people. However, while Karakoncolos is more of a prankster character, Gulyabani poses serious danger. While Karakoncolos has a specific season (Karakış – deep winter), Gulyabani is active year-round.

The difference between Hortlak (revenant) and Gulyabani is distinct. While Hortlak is a dead person’s return, Gulyabani is a supernatural being from the start. While Hortlak is usually seeking revenge, Gulyabani – as far as we know – has no specific purpose; it simply causes harm.

Methods of Protection and Folk Beliefs Against Gulyabani

It’s difficult to find a clear formula for what should be done when encountering Gulyabani or how to overcome it. However, as mentioned in Celal Beydilli’s Turkish Mythology Encyclopedic Dictionary, if hunters encounter Gulyabani, they must wrestle it to escape. If the hunter wins the wrestling match, Gulyabani won’t bother them anymore, leaves them alone, and goes away. But if Gulyabani wins the wrestling match, the hunter falls victim to a relentless illness.

Gulyabani in the Digital World

In the 21st century, the Gulyabani legend gained new dimensions. Taking its place among urban legends, Gulyabani now appears not only in rural areas but also on YouTube or TikTok. In the digital age, Gulyabani stories go viral on social media. Voice messages circulating on WhatsApp, “real” Gulyabani videos shared on TikTok, documentaries broadcast on YouTube create modern versions of this monster. Who knows, perhaps in a few years, Gulyabani will emerge as a modern horror figure similar to Slenderman in creepypastas.

Video Game: A Modern Interpretation

The Gulyabani figure isn’t limited to literature and cinema alone; it appears to be finding a place in the video game world as well. A yet-to-be-released adventure game called “Gulyabani” is set in early 1900s Ottoman-era Istanbul. The game tells the story of Halil, an experienced detective investigating mysterious events in a haunted mansion where supernatural occurrences take place. Detective Halil tries to solve the mansion’s dark secret while attempting to maintain his sanity. This game aims to present a traditional folkloric figure to a modern audience through an interactive adventure genre. Although the game’s release date hasn’t appeared on Steam yet, the game’s producer Cihan Arici says in a comment on the YouTube trailer that the game will be released in November 2025.

Conclusion: A Cultural Heritage Beyond Fear

Gulyabani is not just a creature we fear in the dark; it’s part of our cultural DNA. Its journey from Persian origins to Anatolian lands, from Hüseyin Rahmi Gürpınar’s pen to Kemal Sunal’s performance, from graveyards to social media demonstrates the power of folkloric horror’s adaptation and transformation.

As we continue to tell Gulyabani stories, we keep alive not just fear but also our cultural heritage. Because myths and legends are the mirror of a society’s collective unconscious.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gulyabani real? Gulyabani is a mythological creature found in Turkish and Islamic folklore. There’s no indication that it was inspired by a real entity.

Where and at what hours does Gulyabani appear? According to traditional narratives, Gulyabani generally appears in deserts, derelict places, and graveyards. While it’s difficult to give precise information about the hours it appears, it’s generally associated with nighttime.

Does Gulyabani exist only in Turkish mythology? No, similar creatures are known as “Gul-i Beyabani” in Persian mythology and “Ghoul” in Arab folklore. Each culture has developed its own version.