Oral legends constitute rich sources for understanding the worldview, value systems, and symbolic structures of diverse societies. Among these legends, “Shamārān”—as the archetypal embodiment of the “human-serpent” motif—occupies a distinctive place in Kurdish, Turkic, and Indian cultures. The central question of this study is how this mythical being reflects a shared core of human dualities (knowledge/betrayal, reason/instinct, nature/civilization), and to what extent cultural differences have influenced its social and psychological functions. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and library-based research, this paper comparatively examines the narratives of Shamārān and demonstrates that, despite superficial variations in narrative details—such as Shamārān’s gender, the nature of her relationship with the human hero, or whether the ending is tragic or redemptive—the core elements of the story (the fusion of human and serpent, subterranean existence, emotional bond, betrayal, and access to hidden knowledge) remain consistent across all versions.
The findings are interpreted through Mircea Eliade’s semiotic framework—where the serpent symbolizes the dualities of life/death and healing/poison—and Carl Jung’s archetypal psychology, which regards hybrid human-animal figures as bridges between instinct and reason. The results indicate that Shamārān functions not only as a symbol of power, wisdom, and protection but also as a reflection of fundamental human dualities (reason/instinct, beauty/terror, friendship/betrayal), resonating closely with Indian mythological traditions. By emphasizing the “human-serpent” as a universal archetype, this research fills gaps in previous scholarship and opens a space for intercultural dialogue, wherein myth transforms from a didactic tool promoting ethical values (e.g., loyalty to nature) into a contemporary symbol of resistance.