The Pamukkale Myth

N

narnian reader

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Last year I wrote a story for my Creative Writting class based on a myth I had heard from one of my friends so I spiced it up a little and this is the myth of the formation of Pamukkale. Pamukkale is actually a real place in Turkey and is really cool.

The little children cheered as the aged storyteller enterd the room. The storyteller sat down and the children followed his every movement as the parents watched from the back smiling at their own memories of a long ago story time. The storyteller began to speak and a hush fell about the room. He said, "Today I will tell you the story of how the miracle known to us as Pamukkale came to be." This is the story he told of that long ago time.

That is about all for now. Please let me know if it sounds intresting.
 
I have decided to add a little more background to the story.

In a land far away, in a time long ago, there was a village. The village was called Domuzlu. The village was known for its wild pigs and that is how it had earned the name of "with pigs". The village did not have an excessively large number of people dwelling in it. Many of the youth had gone to Constantinople to work for the sultan or get a better job and possibly education elsewhere.
In that town lived a very poor family. The family consisted of a father, mother and eight girls. The oldest daughter was a sixteen year old named Sevgi. Her name meant love and she was the kindest person in the village helping everybody.
Her father, Ali was a gardener but the jobs were scarce. Eventually he became very depressed. Sevgi remembered her father as a kind and affectionte man but his troubles seemed to have buried his heart of gold as began to turn more and more to alcohol for comfort and relief.
Her mother, Ayse, was a;ways to busy trying to manage the large household with the meager income that they had. She also had a job as a seamstress to make ends meet. As a result Sevgi hardly talked to her mother.
 
This is intriguing! Is your friend Turkish? A Turkish-American man named Turgut used to work for my father's engineering business; he and his wife Ishlal also socialized with my family.

I would have liked to see more real-life information about Pamukkale up front, before you began the fiction; but then, I've always been a history and geography buff. It's your story to write, and it does look promising.
 
Yes. My family used to live about thirty minutes away from Pamukkale. If I can I will try to post a picture sometimes. They are sort of cool looking white cliffs and I belive were actually formed by a whole bunch of calcium deposits. The water is suppposed to be good for your health.
 
Here is the next instalment of the story.

Sevgi had seven younger sisters. The care of the younger children was usually left to Sevgi who labored hard to make her siblings happy and content. Unfortunately the burden was a hard one to bear. The children who were brought up in squalor were insenstive to the needs of other people besides their own.
Sevgi was a very unique girl. Despite all the hardships and toils of her life she learned to be compassionate and kind to others. Many people appreciated her for her personality and she had many friends. Sevgi was also widely admired for her beauty. Despite of a hard life she thrived and everyday became more beautiful.

Here is a picture of Pamukkale.
pamukkale22%20copy.jpg
 
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Forgive my saying so, but your heroine reminds me of my wife Janalee, who was recently summoned up into the presence of Jesus Christ. Jan was beautiful and compassionate, and had younger sisters whom she helped to raise.

And thanks for the visual glimpse of your story setting.
 
Actually the cliffs have not turned white yet they are there in the shape.

One day Sevgi's father came home in a drunken rage. Someone had sent him home before he sobered up and he was angry. Her mother was worried for the safety of her children. She quickly called Sevgi over and said "You must take the children to the cliffs for safety wait there until I summon you. Here are some supplies." She hurriedly gave Sevgi a bag and whirled away to distract Sevgi's father.
Sevgi gathered all the children and herded them to a cave in the cliff like a mother hen would her brood. The children were not happy to be risen from their beds so late at night and complained excessively. When they arrived at the cave Sevgi made their beds quickly and sang them all to sleep. Sevgi stayed awake looking for her mother and watching against wild animals.
 
i'm glad you guys like it.

The night passed very slowly for Sevgi and she began to doze off. Eventually she heard a sound it sound like a child crying. Sevgi became concerned for the safety of the child and began to venture out the cave. She glanced back only to double check the children she was watching. Then she stepped out and began walking in the direction of the voice.
The night was cloudy and there was no moon so Sevgi tried very carefully to watch her step but it was a difficult task. The crying continued and she kept pushing on. Suddenly she lost her footing and began falling. Sevgi frantically tried to stop herself but was unable to. Finally she stopped. She tried to get up but collapsed and realized the pain shooting up her legs and arms and face. Then the world turned black.
 
unforunately is is quite sad.

Many hours later Sevgi woke up. Her legs and face were still throbbing. She slowly began dragging herself torwards the cave where she had left her brothers and sisters knowing that they would be panicing by know. She finally arrived and thankfully they were all still sound asleep. At about midday her mother and father arrived. Her father looked a little embarassed but at least he was sober. "Father, I can't walk. I fell." said Sevgi and with that her condition was revealed. Sevgi spent many days in bed rest recovering. Unfortunately the healing was not complete. Her leg healed crooked and she was unable to walk in addition to being crippled her face was scarred for life.
 
Usually in stories when a character is knocked unconscious, he or she wakes up as the prisoner of some enemy. So it was actually a surprise to find that your unfortunate heroine had suffered a more normal and natural accident.
 
unfortunately it is a very sad story because of the way the myth ends.

Sevgi's injury marked the beginning of a new season for her and her family. In the way of tragedies the accident brought her family together and they became very close. Her father was feeling extremely guilty and as a result devoted his time more and more to Sevgi to ensure her comfort in efforts to make it up to her. He began working on a special project and stayed away from alcohol. Her brothers and sisters finally experienced what it meant to have to take care of themselves and they quickly matured. Eventually they were as kind as Sevgi had ever been and very helpful. They began to get a reputation and the neightbours would hire them for odd jobs around the neighbourhood.
 
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