Mapuche mythology
Encyclopedia
The beliefs of the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...

 and their mythology, stories about to the world and creatures born of the extensive and old religious beliefs, next to a series of common legend and myths that belong to the different groups that compose the Mapuche ethnic group (Mapuche, Huilliche
Huilliche
The Huilliche is an ethnic group of Chile, belonging to the Mapuche culture. They live in mountain valleys in an area south of Toltén River and on Chiloé Archipelago...

, etc.).

Description

In the mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...

 and belief
Belief
Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true.-Belief, knowledge and epistemology:The terms belief and knowledge are used differently in philosophy....

s of the Mapuche people, the machi
Machi (Shaman)
A machi is a traditional healer and religious leader in the Mapuche culture of Chile and Argentina. Machis play significant roles in Mapuche religion. Women are more commonly machis than men.-Description:...

"shaman", a role usually played by older women, is an extremely important part of the Mapuche culture. The machi performs ceremonies for the warding off of evil, for rain, for the cure of diseases, and has an extensive knowledge of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

an medicinal herbs, gained during an arduous apprenticeship. Chileans of all origins and classes make use of the many traditional herbs known to the Mapuche.
The main healing ceremony performed by the machi is called machitun.

Legends and mythical creatures

The most important myths are:
  • the legend of Trentren Vilu and Caicai Vilu (Ten Ten-Vilu
    Ten Ten-Vilu
    Ten Ten-Vilu or Trentren-Vilu is the god of Earth and Fertility ; he has a generous spirit and is the protector of all life on Earth, and the flora and fauna and according to some Mapuche myths...

     and Coi Coi-Vilu
    Coi Coi-Vilu
    Coi Coi-Vilu or Caicai-Vilu is the god of water and of all that inhabits it and is who rules the seas; according to Mapuche myths . This snake was a central figure in the Origin Of The Chiloean Archipelago...

    )
  • the Cherufe
    Cherufe
    The Cherufe is a gigantic, anthropophagous creature in the Mapuche mythology; of the South American culture, in Chile.-Legend:The Cherufe is an evil creature humanoid of rock and magma. It is said that Cherufe inhabit the magma pools found deep within Chilean volcanoes and are the source of...

  • the Chonchon
    Chonchon
    For other uses, see Chonchon The Chonchon is a mythical bird from Mapuche religion also present in Chilean and southern Argentinan folk myth.-Legend:...

  • the Colo Colo
    Colo Colo (mythology)
    The Colo Colo or Colocolo, is a malignant creature of Mapuche mythology.-Legend:The Colo Colo's aspects differ slightly according to which zone of Chile. In Mapuche the Colo Colo has a serpent form with legs, similar to a long rat with feathers...

  • the Gualichu
    Gualichu
    Gualichu or gualicho, in the Mapuche mythology and mainly in the Tehuelche culture, was an evil spirit or demon, comparable but not similar to the Devil.-Description:...

  • the kalku
    Kalku
    Kalku or Calcu, in Mapuche mythology, is a sorcerer or witch that works with black magic and negative powers or forces. The essentially benevolent shamans are more often referred to as machi, to avoid confusion with the malevolent kalku...

  • the Ngen
    Ngen
    In Mapuche mythology, Ngen are spirits of nature of the Mapuche beliefs. In Mapudungun, the word ngen means "owner".-Legend:The Ngen are those that manage, govern and arrange the different features of nature; but also those that nature takes care of and protects...

     spirits
  • the Nguruvilu
    Nguruvilu
    The Nguruvilu "fox snake" is a creature found in the Mapuche mythology of Chile.-Legend:...

  • the Peuchen
    Peuchen
    The Peuchen is a creature from the Mapuche mythology and Chilote mythology pertaining to southern Chile, a much feared shapeshifting creature which could instantly change into animal form.It has often been described as gigantic flying snake which produced strange whistling sounds, while its gaze...

  • the Pillan
    Pillan
    The Pillan is a powerful and respected male spirit in Mapuche mythology....

     spirits
  • the Wekufe
    Wekufe
    The Wekufe or Huecuve is an important type of harmful spirit or demon in Mapuche mythology.-Legend:...

     spirits

See also

  • Mapuche
    Mapuche
    The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...

  • Mapudungun
    Mapudungun
    The Mapuche language, Mapudungun is a language isolate spoken in south-central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also spelled Mapuzugun and sometimes called Mapudungu or Araucanian...

  • Machi (shaman)
    Machi (Shaman)
    A machi is a traditional healer and religious leader in the Mapuche culture of Chile and Argentina. Machis play significant roles in Mapuche religion. Women are more commonly machis than men.-Description:...

  • Chilota mythology
    Chilota 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...

  • Chilean mythology
    Chilean mythology
    The Chilean mythology, is the mythology and beliefs of the Folklore of Chile.-Description:The Chilean mythology is an aggregate of myths and legends from the beliefs of Chile's indigenous groups ; and others of European origin, mainly of the Spanish colonization of Chile.The variety of sources of...

  • Mapuche International Link
    Mapuche International Link
    Mapuche International Link is an organization which campaigns on behalf of the Mapuche people of southern Chile and Argentina. The group was formed in 1996 and is based in Bristol, United Kingdom....

  • Chemamull
    Chemamull
    Chemamüll are Mapuche statues made of wood used to signal the grave of a deceased person.-Description:...

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