Sivas, around Konya (folk belief)

The Tale of Karakura

Folklore — not a documented case

A tale about a being believed to press down on a sleeping person's chest and cut off their breath; it is one of the folk explanations for what is today known medically as "sleep paralysis." In different regions it is also known by other names, such as "Elkişave." Though it has a scientific counterpart, the tale itself continues to be told within a supernatural framework.

According to this figure, told in Sivas, Konya, and various parts of Anatolia, Karakura is a being that presses down on a sleeping person's chest at night, cutting off their breath and preventing them from moving. In different areas it is also known by names such as Karabasan, Elkişave, and Cinbasması.

The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

From the same region