Karacaoğlan

Karacaoğlan lived among the Turkmen and Yörük nomads of southern Anatolia, on the Çukurova plain and in the Taurus Mountains. Little is certain about his life, but his poems show he travelled widely.

Steering clear of religious and courtly themes, he sang of beloveds, highland pastures, separation and nature in plain, vivid language. His syllabic koşmas, varsağıs and türküs are among the finest examples of minstrel literature.

His poems have been sung by minstrels and folk singers for centuries, and Mut in Mersin and Feke in Adana keep his memory alive with monuments and festivals.