The pond turtle found at the ponds and springs is connected to the Kurdish goddess of waters, Ana, which has been residing in springs, rivers and lakes since the beginning of life on earth. Accordingly, the turtle symbolizes longevity and immortality.

The turtle motif on a Kurdish rug, 19th or early 20th century

Among Muslim Kurds, the goddess Ana is replaced with the prophet Khizir, an immortal spirit whose shrines are found in many places in Kurdistan next to springs and rivers. Accordingly, turtle motifs are common in Kurdish decorative and religious arts.

In many texts, Khizir or Khidr is described as a messenger, prophet, or angel who guards the sea, helps those in distress and imparts secret knowledge. Although not explicitly mentioned, Khizir is mentioned in the Quran.

Khizir visualized in a painting wearing a green overall. Scholars suggest his name was derived from the Arabic word Akhzar, meaning green. 

 

One Kurdish legend is that the turtle was originally a wise human who was well-versed in the sea and eventually transformed into an animal, turning the sea or river it's an eternal home.

In Kurdish dream lore, a turtle could represent wisdom, good health and good luck. For instance, turtles seen in a dream indicate their will's emergence with wise people.

The turtle shell is believed to be a defense against the evil eye or malevolent witchcraft. When the harvest season begins, turtle shells are hung on poles and placed in the harvest field to ward off the evil eye. In some regions, the nomads, to parry fascination, carried a fragment of turtle shell fastened to a peg of oak wood.

In some ritual practices, turtle blood was applied on scars and skin infections, believing that turtles had the power of healing.

The mytheme of the cosmic turtle—a giant turtle supporting the world—found in many cultures has also made its way into Kurdish cosmogony, where we find a giant turtle carrying the world on its back.

A rare Kurdish rug with mysterious pond turtle icons associated with Kurdish mythology, 19th century