Chilote mythology

The Chilote mythology or Chilota mythology is formed by the myths, legends and beliefs of the people who live in the Chiloé Archipelago, in the south of Chile. This mythology, reflects the importance of the sea in the life of Chilotes.

Chilote mythology is based on a mixture of indigenous religions (the Chonos and Huilliches) that live in the Archipelago of Chiloé, and the legends and superstitions brought by the Spanish Conquistadores, who in 1567 began the process of conquest in Chiloé and with it the fusion of elements that would form a separate mythology.

Chilota mythology flourished, isolated from other beliefs and myths in Chile, due to the separation of the archipelago from the rest of the Spanish occupation in Chile, when the Mapuches occupied or destroyed by all the Spanish settlements between the Bío-Bío River and the Chacao channel following the disaster of Curalaba in 1598.

Legends and mythical creatures

Myths and mythical creatures of Chiloé, in southern Chile include:

• The Basilisco Chilote (a type of Basilisk)
• The Brujo Chilote (a type of sorcerer)
• The Caballo marino chilote (a type of water horse)
• The Caleuche
• The Camahueto
• The Cape or Skin
• The Chucao
• The Cuchivilo
• The Coñieuma (a double flower that screams as a child on new moon)
• The Fiura
• La Condená ("The Condemned")
• The macabre Invunche
• Chiloé (mytological origin). The legend of Ten ten Vilu, Coi coi Vilu and Origin of the Archipelago
• The Millalobo
• The Peuchen or Piguchen
• The Pésame
• The Pincoya, goddess of the Chiloean Seas
• The Pincoy
• The Sirena chilota (a type of Mermaid)
• The Trauco

See also

• Mapuche mythology
• Chilean mythology
• Chiloé

References

• Martinez Vilches, Oscar (1992). Chiloe Misterioso: Turismo, Mitologia Chilota, leyendas. Chile: Ediciones de la Voz de Chiloe. p. 179. ISBN 0-19-451308-4.  (Spanish)
• Isabel Vidal Miranda. Folklore, mitos y leyendas del archipielago de Chiloé. Mito, 1976. (Spanish)

External links

• Renato Cárdenas Alvarez (1997). "El libro de la mitología" (in Spanish). ATELÍ y Cía. http://virginia-vidal.com/cgi-bin/revista/exec/view.cgi/1/170. Retrieved 23 September 2009.