Aymara Aymara may refer to: Languages and people * Aymaran languages, the second most widespread Andean language ** Aymara language, the main language within that family ** Central Aymara, the other surviving branch of the Aymara(n) family, which today ...

mythology, Anchanchu or Janchanchu (Hispanic spelling, Anchancho) is a terrible

demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in folklore, mythology, religion, occultism, and literature; these beliefs are reflected in Media (communication), media including f ...

that haunts caves, rivers, and other isolated places. This

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...

is closely related to the

Uru Uru or URU may refer to: Language * Uru dialect of Central Kilimanjaro, a Bantu language of Tanzania * Uru language, the extinct language of the Uros, an Amerindian people * Urumi language, an extinct language of the Amazon region of Brazil * U ...

god Tiw. For the people of Huancané, it is recommended to not walk at night, specifically after midnight. Anchanchu appears as a red dog around one to three A.M. His appearance is described as being a pudgy, bald, older man. Anchanchu is thought of by some of the Aymaran as a spiritual figure that has authority over extracting precious minerals from the soil. He is a kind of "gatekeeper" of the trade of minerals that reside in the soil, and there is a lengthy process, which includes The Dance of the Horns, that whoever would like to access has to complete.

References

{{myth-stub Aymara legendary creatures

See also

References