EREN BABA

On top of Babadağ ( 1975 meters ), an august person is buried. It is at the summit, newt to the precipice facing the sea. It is surrounded with iron wire-netting by the Forestly Department. It is about 10 meters away from the fire-watching tower.

Villagers in the vicinty visit this saint frequently, making a wish. Offerings are made to please the saint. The villagers come here in groups to pray for rain and at religious holidays. It is claimed that the name Babadağ is derived from this saint.

Hayrullah Kocaman ( 77 ), the retired forest protection employee who worked in this region for many years, talk as follows :

'I know the tomb of Eren Baba. It is right on the summit of Babadağ. It is surrounded by bare stone walls. In the old days, the villagers came here in groups and prayed for rain and made their wishes. The elders told me this :

' Once, on the day before the religious holiday, the villages started  outin a group for a visit. When they had another 300 meters to reach the summit, they were faced with an unexpected hail of stones. They drew back a little and the stones stopped. They started up once more and the stones rained on the again. There was a somewhat knowledgeable man among them who sadi ' Eren Baba does not throw stones for nothing. Anyone who is sceptical about him or himself should leave us'. One person started to walk back towards the village. The rest of the group moved on. There were no more stones. The went on their way and paid their visit.'

'What is more, ' sat the elderly villagers ( from Faralya, Karaağaç, Kirme and Belen ), 'whenever we gathered at the summit to pray for rain, it immediately started raining. That is why we are devoted to Eren Baba.! Nowadays, the parachutists, taking off to the sky from Babadağ and attractively decorating Ölüdeniz, start off near Baba Eren, at a distance of about 100 meters away from him. He is the watchkeeper of the Mediterranean and the protector of sailors in trouble. While the parachutists glide in the sky, he must be watching them, pleased that his burial place honoured.