Tradition / Region: Turkish Mythology
Alternative names: Qaraqura (Turkish spelling)
Category: Cat
The Myth
The Karakura is a cat-like nightmare spirit that attacks people while they sleep. It silently creeps onto the chest of a sleeping person, making it difficult or impossible to breathe, and may even tear out the victim’s lungs. In Anatolian folklore, it is sometimes described as a cat-sized animal, while in other traditions it is regarded as an invisible or abstract spirit.
A person afflicted by the Karakura suddenly feels a crushing weight pressing on the chest. Although fully aware of their surroundings, they cannot move, speak, or call for help. The only way to drive the creature away is to recite verses from the Qur’an. According to tradition, the Karakura quietly opens its eyes, but by the time the recitation is finished, it has already disappeared.
To protect against the Karakura, people were advised to place a knife or at least a piece of iron beneath their pillow before going to bed and to recite verses from the Qur’an before sleeping.
The Karakura is also said to fear daylight and cannot move once the sun rises, meaning it can only be encountered during the night.
Sources
“Kara Kura.” New Bestiary (Bestiary.us). Accessed July 28, 2026. https://www.bestiary.us/kara-kura