Introduction to Chilote mythology
By zteve t evans
Chilote mythology
Chilote mythology is the mythology of the people who live on the Chiloé Archipelago lying near the coast of southern Chile. The biggest of the islands is Chiloé, which means “land of sea gulls” and pronounced, Chee-lo-way. Archaeologists believe the islands have been settled by humans for at least 5,000 years. The people of the Chiloé Archipelago are known as Chilotes and are the descendants of Huilliche and Choncho Indians and the main language spoken is now Spanish.
Chilote mythology is the mythology of the people who live on the Chiloé Archipelago lying near the coast of southern Chile. The biggest of the islands is Chiloé, which means “land of sea gulls” and pronounced, Chee-lo-way. Archaeologists believe the islands have been settled by humans for at least 5,000 years. The people of the Chiloé Archipelago are known as Chilotes and are the descendants of Huilliche and Choncho Indians and the main language spoken is now Spanish.
A unique mythology
Their lives and well being, in the past, present and the foreseeable future are inextricably linked to the sea. This dependence has seen the evolution of a unique mythology, folklore and traditions to help them explain and make sense of the world they live in. Naturally, for an island people, the sea plays a large part in this mythology, reflecting its importance to the people.
Their lives and well being, in the past, present and the foreseeable future are inextricably linked to the sea. This dependence has seen the evolution of a unique mythology, folklore and traditions to help them explain and make sense of the world they live in. Naturally, for an island people, the sea plays a large part in this mythology, reflecting its importance to the people.
Church of Dalcahue, Christ surrounded by mythological creatures of Chiloé - Maclemo - CC BY-SA 3.0
Spanish ships bring Christianity
Another important influence was the arrival of the Spanish from across the other side of the world in huge ships with masts and sails. The first sightings of these strange ships, perhaps sailing on the distant horizon and maybe stopping off at an island, must have had a profound effect on the native people. But in 1567 the Spanish stopped at the islands bringing with them from across the other side of the world, Christianity.
The indigenous island people; the Chonos and the Huilliche, while retaining much of their original mythology incorporated into it the traditions and religion that the Spanish conquistadors brought with them creating a unique mythology separate from that of mainland Chile.
When the Mapuches, a mainland tribe of indigenous people, in 1598, defeated the Spanish in a battle known as the Disaster of Curalaba the people rose up against the Spanish ending their rule and control over much of the Chilean mainland. The islands were cut off and in isolation they evolved their own unique system of mythology and beliefs from their own traditional folklore and the Christian stories and folklore from Spain.
In that system a number of myths and legends were developed which explained important events and daily problems of existence in terms that they understood and were relevant to them. These myths revolved around magical creatures and events that helped them make sense of the world around them.
The creation myth of the Chiloé Archipelago
The most significant creatures in Chilote mythology were Tenten Vilu and Caicai Vilu and the most important event was the creation of their archipelago home. The legend tells how these two mighty creatures fought each other in a battle of titanic proportions. From the destruction and debris from the battle the islands were formed.
The Chilote Royal Family of the sea
The Royal Family of the sea in Chilote mythology consists of the Millalobo who is the king of the seas. His wife and queen, the Huenchula who uses the sound of waves to manifest to the islanders and gives warnings of overfishing. The Millalobo and the Huenchula have two daughters and a son who help them to take care of the sea. The Picoya and La Sirena Chilota are the two daughters princesses of the sea and the prince of the sea, the Pincoy, their son.
Other entities in Chilote mythology
There are also a number of other magical and mythical people and entities in Chilote mythology that evolved to explain certain aspects of the natural environment the people lived in and of the human condition. El Caleuche is a ghost ship that sails the seas around the islands. It carries the souls of those drowned at sea.
These are the main entities of Chilote mythology but there are very many more traditions, folktales and legends that have evolved over the centuries to help the local people make sense of their world.
Another important influence was the arrival of the Spanish from across the other side of the world in huge ships with masts and sails. The first sightings of these strange ships, perhaps sailing on the distant horizon and maybe stopping off at an island, must have had a profound effect on the native people. But in 1567 the Spanish stopped at the islands bringing with them from across the other side of the world, Christianity.
The indigenous island people; the Chonos and the Huilliche, while retaining much of their original mythology incorporated into it the traditions and religion that the Spanish conquistadors brought with them creating a unique mythology separate from that of mainland Chile.
When the Mapuches, a mainland tribe of indigenous people, in 1598, defeated the Spanish in a battle known as the Disaster of Curalaba the people rose up against the Spanish ending their rule and control over much of the Chilean mainland. The islands were cut off and in isolation they evolved their own unique system of mythology and beliefs from their own traditional folklore and the Christian stories and folklore from Spain.
In that system a number of myths and legends were developed which explained important events and daily problems of existence in terms that they understood and were relevant to them. These myths revolved around magical creatures and events that helped them make sense of the world around them.
The creation myth of the Chiloé Archipelago
The most significant creatures in Chilote mythology were Tenten Vilu and Caicai Vilu and the most important event was the creation of their archipelago home. The legend tells how these two mighty creatures fought each other in a battle of titanic proportions. From the destruction and debris from the battle the islands were formed.
The Chilote Royal Family of the sea
The Royal Family of the sea in Chilote mythology consists of the Millalobo who is the king of the seas. His wife and queen, the Huenchula who uses the sound of waves to manifest to the islanders and gives warnings of overfishing. The Millalobo and the Huenchula have two daughters and a son who help them to take care of the sea. The Picoya and La Sirena Chilota are the two daughters princesses of the sea and the prince of the sea, the Pincoy, their son.
Other entities in Chilote mythology
There are also a number of other magical and mythical people and entities in Chilote mythology that evolved to explain certain aspects of the natural environment the people lived in and of the human condition. El Caleuche is a ghost ship that sails the seas around the islands. It carries the souls of those drowned at sea.
These are the main entities of Chilote mythology but there are very many more traditions, folktales and legends that have evolved over the centuries to help the local people make sense of their world.
References and Attributions
Copyright zteve t evans
Copyright zteve t evans
- Church of Dalcahue, Christ surrounded by mythological creatures of Chiloé - Maclemo - CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chilote mythology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Chiloé: the island of legends | This is Chile
- Isla Grande de Chiloé - Island of Legend and Lore
- Into the Cave of Chile’s Witches - Smithsonian.com
