Long ago, in the heart of Anatolia, there reigned a great sultan whose palace gleamed like sunlight over marble. Yet for all his wealth and splendour, the sultan longed for one thing above all, a true and worthy heir. Among the women of his court, three sisters served him faithfully. One evening, as they sat spinning by the hearth, they spoke of their dreams.
“If the Sultan were to marry me,” said the eldest, “I would weave him a carpet so fine it would cover the whole world.”
The second smiled and replied, “If he chose me, I would bake bread enough to feed the armies of all lands.”
The youngest, whose heart was pure and gentle, whispered, “If the Sultan took me as his wife, I would bear him two children with golden hair and stars shining on their foreheads.”
Unbeknownst to them, the Sultan overheard their conversation. Amazed by the youngest sister’s words, he summoned the three at once and made her his queen. The other two, consumed by envy, were given places among her attendants.
Months passed, and true to her promise, the young queen gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, each radiant with golden hair and bright stars upon their brows. The Sultan was away on campaign when the children were born, and the jealous sisters saw their chance. They stole the newborns and replaced them with two tiny puppies. Then they sent word to the Sultan that his wife had given birth to beasts.
Furious and ashamed, the Sultan ordered the young queen to be cast into the dark tower, where she wept day and night, never knowing the fate of her children.
The jealous sisters wrapped the golden-haired infants in a silken cloth and cast them into the river that wound past the palace. But destiny is powerful, and innocence protected. The river carried the babies gently until they were found by a kind miller and his wife, who had no children of their own. They took the shining twins home, raised them with love, and marveled at the golden glow of their hair that brightened even the dimmest days.
Years passed, and the boy grew strong and wise, while the girl became graceful and kind. They lived in peace, though none could explain the mystery of their birth. Yet rumours spread of the two radiant children by the mill, and whispers reached even the jealous sisters in the Sultan’s palace. Fear prickled their hearts. If the Sultan were ever to learn the truth, their wickedness would be exposed.
To ensure their secret remained buried, they disguised themselves as peddlers and went to the mill. They offered the young girl a sparkling ring, saying, “This will bring you good fortune if you wear it at dawn.” Trusting them, the girl accepted it, but the ring was cursed. As soon as she placed it on her finger, she fell into a deep, deathlike sleep.
Heartbroken, her brother sought help from a wise hermit who lived beyond the forest. The old man, seeing the boy’s sorrow, said, “Your sister will not awaken until you bring her the singing tree, the golden water, and the bird that speaks truth.”
The boy set out at once on his perilous quest. He crossed deserts, climbed mountains, and faced spirits who tested his courage. When he reached a distant land, he found the tree whose branches rang with music, the golden water that shimmered like the sun, and the speaking bird who told no lies.
But guarding them was a monstrous giant. The boy fought bravely, guided by the light of the star on his forehead. He defeated the creature, gathered the treasures, and returned home. When he sprinkled the golden water on his sister’s brow, she stirred, opened her eyes, and smiled once more. The singing tree filled the air with sweet melodies, and the bird perched on her shoulder, whispering secrets of the past.
News of these miracles reached the Sultan, who decided to visit the mill and see the marvels himself. The jealous sisters, trembling with fear, tried to dissuade him, but the Sultan’s curiosity could not be contained.
When he arrived, he saw the two golden-haired children, their foreheads shining with the very stars foretold long ago. As he gazed upon them, a strange familiarity warmed his heart. The speaking bird fluttered forward and declared, “O Sultan, these are your true children, stolen by envy and saved by fate!”
The truth struck him like thunder. He ordered the wicked sisters brought before him, and justice was served for their cruelty. Then he freed his faithful queen from her tower and brought her to her children. The family embraced, their tears shining like gold under the morning sun. Peace and happiness returned to the palace, and the golden-haired twins were cherished as symbols of truth and destiny fulfilled.
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Moral Lesson
This Turkish folktale teaches that jealousy and deceit can never triumph over innocence and truth. Fate protects the pure of heart, and justice, though delayed, always finds its way home.
Knowledge Check
1. Who were the main characters in The Golden-Haired Children?
The Sultan, his youngest queen, their golden-haired twins, and the jealous sisters who betrayed them.
2. What special sign marked the children’s miraculous birth?
Both twins had golden hair and shining stars on their foreheads.
3. How did the jealous sisters try to hide their crime?
They replaced the newborns with puppies and cast the true babies into the river.
4. What were the three magical items the boy sought to save his sister?
The singing tree, the golden water, and the speaking bird.
5. What role did the speaking bird play in the story’s ending?
It revealed the truth about the children’s origin to the Sultan, exposing the sisters’ deceit.
6. What is the moral lesson of this Turkish folktale?
That truth and innocence will always overcome envy and falsehood, no matter how long it takes.
Source: Adapted from the Turkish folktale The Golden-Haired Children in Turkish Fairy Tales and Folk Tales, collected by Dr. Ignácz Kúnos (1901).
Cultural Origin: Turkish Anatolia
