Argentine mythology encompasses the beliefs of the disantos, the inhabitants of this country in the south of the continent who have their own customs and legends based on the area where they live.
Characters from Argentine Mythology
This anthology reflects and mentions different beings that are recognized by the citizens of this nation, including:
1) Almamula
A character who became popular in the Santiago del Estero area, who taught the inhabitants that immoral sexual relations should not take place.
The story of the character also known as Mula Anima
The plot revolves around Almamula, a woman who had no morals and committed incest with her father and brother. According to the stories, she even had relations with the village priest, and neither she nor the three men ever repented of their actions.
The story goes on to say that when she died, she was cursed by God and turned into a leaden-colored mule, which was dragged around by chains.
According to the testers, she is a very dangerous being who can kick to death anyone she encounters on a mountain night, as she is said to roam in the darkness of towns on stormy days. She is recognized by people for her cries of pain, and legend has it that she disappears when she reaches the nearest village church, shooting fire from her eyes and mouth as she leaves.
Symbolically, her chains represent the weight of her sins and the hope that one day a man will be able to stop her, overcoming his fear and freeing her from this eternal torture, which would give her soul peace and allow her to go to heaven. Consequently, this traditional legend teaches the inhabitants not to engage in immoral relationships and to repent if they do, because if they do not, they will be punished by turning into mules.
2) Mandinga
This character represents the incarnation of the devil in Argentine folklore and has the role of showing a more friendly and sociable side of him, who tempts people more easily, but he is recognized because when he moves away from a person, he leaves a typical smell that reveals that it is the devil trying to deceive them.
What does Mandinga mean?
This term arrived in Argentina around the 13th century in the Río de la Plata area when slavery was being abolished, and it is actually a way of referring to black men from western Sudan.
3) Pombero
A goblin with white or black hair who can be a friend or enemy to humans depending on how they treat him. The way to get his help is by giving him offerings at night, which can be:
- Tobacco
- Honey
- Sugar cane
But after he helps them by making their crops grow or watching over their animals in the corrals, people must give him these offerings for 30 days in a row. If they forget, they will awaken his uncontrollable fury, which will be directed at their homes, causing mischief.
Likewise, if you speak ill of him or say his name out loud, this, together with his whistle, angers him to the point that he will hit the person, and the touch of his hands will cause the person to become mute, dizzy, and trembling for the rest of their life.
Everyone knows that the Pombero is approaching when they hear a loud whistle in the night, and they like to scare people by making the sounds of certain birds. They often believe that he is the father of any pregnant woman he encounters.
4) Taqfwaj
In northern Argentina, in the culture of the Mataco Indians, there is a half-clever, half-foolish goblin who is mentioned in various stories of natural or traditional poetry.
5) Sacháyoj
He is the lord of the forests in the southern Chaco region of the country, in the province of Santiago del Estero. He symbolizes both good and bad things, but always watches over nature.
What does Sacháyoj look like?
He is a being who, according to some versions, changes shape at will. His traditional form is that of a bearded man with hair as long as grass. Other versions describe him as an old man covered in herbs. He is a being with the head and torso of an old man and the limbs of an animal, which may be:
- Guazuncho
- Puma
- Jaguar
- Fox
Sometimes he takes the form of a giant animal, usually one of the following:
- Rabbit
- Guazuncho
- Vizcacha
He is also known for the sounds he makes, which resemble the blow of an axe, attracting woodcutters and causing them to get lost in the forest. He lives on wild fruits and animals, and his ability to move quickly through these spaces allows him to easily evade dogs that chase him.
Legend
The Sacháyoj is known for carrying a bag of honey, which it gives as a gift to any human brave enough to approach it, as a symbol of mutual respect.
Mythological animals from the Argentine anthology
The mythical anthology of this country also includes many stories told by citizens from different areas about mythical animals that form part of the beliefs of this culture, some of which are:
1) Piuchén
A creature with vampire-like characteristics that sucks the blood of people in southern Argentina, although it is associated with the myth of the chupacabra.
What does this mythical creature look like?
Initially, it is thought to be a bat, but it can change its appearance to the more traditional form of a flying snake. However, it is never known exactly what form it will take. These are some possibilities:
- Bird
- Quadruped
- Human
- Bat
- Fish
- Frog
- Snake
This figure is accompanied by grass or small pieces of trees or twisted cylinders that act as horns.
Myth
A creature that feeds on blood and forms part of tree trunks at night and when it is excessively hot.
The only way to know where it has been is because it leaves a trail of blood on the trees where it has lived and because of its sharp whistles.
The locals believe that this animal lives in areas near lakes and rivers, causing the emergence of an irritating substance that, through the air or water, causes skin rashes such as scabies. If a person sees it, they can be paralyzed by its gaze while it sucks their blood until they are almost dead.
Although it usually prefers goats, sheep, or other animals and would make livestock thin, it is worth noting that it is very unlikely that it would attack a human.
How can you protect yourself from the Piuchén?
People will only be safe if they go to another place or if there is a river or stream between them and this vampire-like creature. If you cannot escape, the only way to protect yourself is with the help of a Machi, a person who performs a magical ceremony to drive it away. The only way to kill it is to cover the tree where it is hiding with a strong cloth so that it cannot escape and then set fire to the entire tree.
2) Eropido
A mythological bird that is part of Argentine beliefs and only appears on days commemorating a martyr of the Christian calendar, the most important being February 14. This creature is associated with the qualities of love and relationships, even marriage or pregnancy, as it symbolizes fertility.
3) The Familiar Dog
A man-eating creature that became popular thanks to the sugar mills of northwestern Argentina.
Argentine tale
Within the country, there are various versions of this perverse and demonic being who, in exchange for human lives, gives power and money to his owner. This mythical being became known in areas where there were sugar plantations, as the owners of the fields took advantage of this to coerce the workers.
Its attack consists of feeding only on human flesh, and it preferred workers who did not comply with their boss’s orders. It is released by its owner once a year to satisfy its hunger, and if its quota is not met, it can eat its master. Finally, the only way to escape this creature alive is to show it a cross, which must be wielded like a dagger.
What does it look like?
He is described as an animal with large red eyes that resemble fire, his hair is as hard as a wild boar’s, and he is said to have human features, such as clawed hands, and that he can sometimes walk on two legs, leading to the conclusion that he may be a hybrid of both beings.
It was even thought that it is actually a European-style human who dresses in black and rides a horse, managing to speak on these occasions. What the stories do agree on is that it gives off a strong smell of sulfur, along with the sound of chains dragging, emitting vibrations that act as the message of this evil being, which nothing can stop or hurt.
4) Nahuelito
A sea creature believed to inhabit Lake Nahuel Huapi in Argentine Patagonia. It is a highly sought-after version of its Scottish counterpart, Nessie. It is a well-known legend in the country, believed to originate from the ancient indigenous people who inhabited the area before the conquest of America, and which later became so popular that it appears in classic Argentine books and articles.
5) Yaguareté-Abá
Man-Tiger or Man-Leopard, this creature is a well-known character in northeastern Argentina and the Gran Chaco region. It arises from a witch’s great adoration for these animals and is based on the metamorphosis from human to beast, or vice versa.
Legend
The sorcerer’s transformation begins with the use of a jaguar skin and sahúma with chicken feathers. Because of these, they were given the power to shed their skins and transform into a creature half jaguar and half human. They then go out hunting and, after eating their prey, return to their human form by performing the same procedure.
They are extremely aggressive and only eat human, mule, or cow meat. They like to raid ranches and force young women to clean them. The only way to escape is to remove their skin and spit in their face, as this leaves them blind and vulnerable to attack. After they die, they return to their human form. This must be accompanied by blessed bullets or machetes, but that is not all: they must be decapitated after killing them to ensure that they do not come back to life.
Books on Argentine Mythology
Over the years, these popular stories have become increasingly important to the country’s culture, leading many writers to take parts of these tales and turn them into books that break down the ancient beliefs of the Argentine people.
According to reports, mystery seekers can visit the Alberdi Library to find a range of mythical texts that discuss different areas of the country. Among the most popular are:
A) Myths and Legends of Cuyo, published in 1998.
B) Argentine fables by Godofredo Daireaux.
C) Litoral, published in 2013 by Leonardo Batic.
D) Seres Mitológicos Argentinos (Argentine Mythological Beings), published in 2013, with illustrations by Luis Scafati from Mendoza.
