The Anchimayen (in the
Mapudungun
Mapuche ( , ; from 'land' and 'people', meaning 'the people of the land') or Mapudungun (from 'land' and 'speak, speech', meaning 'the speech of the land'; also spelled Mapuzugun and Mapudungu) is either a language isolate or member of the s ...
language, also spelled "Anchimallén" or "Anchimalguén" in Spanish) is a mythical creature in
Mapuche mythology. Anchimayens are described as little creatures that take the form of small children, and can transform into
flying fireballs that emit bright light. They are the servants of a
kalku (a type of Mapuche sorcerer).
According to some sources, the goddess she was originally conceived of as the moon goddess, married to the sun, but later developed into a (
will-o'-the-wisp
In folklore, a will-o'-the-wisp, will-o'-wisp, or ; ), is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travellers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes.
The phenomenon is known in the United Kingdom by a variety of names, including jack-o'- ...
) type being that frightens and unhorses travelers.
Anchimayens are sometimes confused with
Kueyen (the Mapuche lunar goddess), because she also produces a bright light.
See also
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Ball lightning
Ball lightning is a rare and unexplained phenomenon described as Luminosity, luminescent, spherical objects that vary from pea-sized to several meters in diameter. Though usually associated with thunderstorms, the observed phenomenon is repor ...
*
Energy being
*
Tupilaq
*
Tikoloshe
Explanatory notes
References
Bibliography
* Louis C. Faron. The Mapuche Indians of Chile. Case studies in cultural anthropology. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1968.
Mapuche legendary creatures
Corporeal undead
Latin American folklore
{{Chile-myth-stub