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In Basque mythology
The mythology of the ancient Basques largely did not survive the arrival of Christianity in the Basque Country between the 4th and 12th century AD. Most of what is known about elements of this original belief system is based on the analysis of ...
, (also , , , ) is the male half of a pre-Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
Basque deity
A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...
associated with storms and thunder. He is normally imagined as a dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted a ...
or serpent
Serpent or The Serpent may refer to:
* Snake, a carnivorous reptile of the suborder Serpentes
Mythology and religion
* Sea serpent, a monstrous ocean creature
* Serpent (symbolism), the snake in religious rites and mythological contexts
* Serp ...
. Unlike his female consort, , there are very few remaining legends about . The basic purpose of his existence is to periodically join with in the mountains to generate the storms.
In one myth seduces a Scottish princess in the village of Mundaka
Mundaka ( es, Mundaca) is a town and Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country, northern Spain. On the coast, Mundaka is internation ...
to father the mythical first Lord of Biscay
The Lordship of Biscay ( es, Señorío de Vizcaya, Basque: ''Bizkaiko jaurerria'') was a region under feudal rule in the region of Biscay in the Iberian Peninsula between 1040 and 1876, ruled by a political figure known as the Lord of Biscay. On ...
, '' Jaun Zuria''. This legend is believed to be a fabrication made to legitimize the Lordship of Biscay
Biscay (; eu, Bizkaia ; es, Vizcaya ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao. ...
as a separate state from Navarre
Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
, because there is no historical account of such a lord. Only the fact that the delegates of Mundaka were attributed with the formal privilege of being the first to vote in the (Parliament) of the province may look as unlikely indication of the partial veracity of this legend.
Etymology
The name is derived from (serpent) and (male), thus "male serpent". The suggestions of a formation based on (fire) and (flame), thus yielding "flame of fire" are consideredfolk etymology
Folk etymology (also known as popular etymology, analogical reformation, reanalysis, morphological reanalysis or etymological reinterpretation) is a change in a word or phrase resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more famili ...
.
, another name of the same deity, has two possible interpretations, either a + (former, "old serpent") or + ("high fire"). There is no likely etymology for the third name of this god, .
Local legends on
* InAtaun
Ataun is a town located at the foot of the Aralar Range in the Goierri region of the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. The town consists of three major parishes - San Martin, San Greg ...
he is said to have two homes: in the caves of and . He is said to have been witnessed crossing the sky in form of fire-sickle, what is considered presage of storms. In this area is also said that punishes the children that disobey their parents.
* In Azkoitia
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, u ...
is clearly identified with . He meets on Fridays (the day of the akelarre or sabbat), conceiving then the storms.
* In Betelu
Betelu is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto ...
is known as and considered a demon
A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in Media (communication), media such as comics, video ...
. There they say that he travels through the sky in the shape of a fireball
Fireball may refer to:
Science
* Fireball (meteor), a brighter-than-usual meteor
* Ball lightning, an atmospheric electrical phenomenon
* ''Bassia scoparia'', a plant species
Arts and entertainment Films
* '' The Fireball'', a 1950 film starring ...
, between the mountains Balerdi and Elortalde.
See also
*Herensuge
Herensuge is the name for a mythical dragon in the Basque language. In Basque mythology, dragons appear sparingly, sometimes with seven heads. Herensuge often also appear in the form of a serpent. The seven heads were believed to be the offspring ...
(Basque dragon)
References
* {{cite book , last=Dueso , first=José , title=La primitiva religión de los vascos , language=es , trans-title=The primitive religion of the Basques , publisher=Orain S.A. , date=1996 , isbn=84-89077-56-8 Basque mythology Basque and Iberian deities Sky and weather gods Thunder gods European dragons Basque legendary creatures