List of Basque mythological figures

The following is a list of gods, goddesses and many other divine and semi-divine figures and creatures from ancient Basque mythology.

Deities

• Aide: a minor goddess of wind and air.
• Amalur: the earth goddess
• Eate: a storm god sometimes associated with fire and ice.
• Egoi: a minor wind deity.
• Eki: the solar deity, the daughter of Lurbira.
• Ilargi or Ile are the known names of the Moon, also a daughter of Ama Lur.
• Inguma: god of nightmares
• Mari: a mother goddess and wife of the deity Sugaar.
• Orko: a thunder god.
• Sugaar: a male god associated with storms and thunder, and the husband of Mari.

Spirits and other figures

Basajaun, the wild man of the woods

Tartalo, the Basque cyclops

• Aatxe: or Etsai is a cave-dwelling evil spirit who adopts the form of a young red bull, or a young man.
• Akerbeltz: a demonic spirit in the form of a goat.
• Basajaun: the wild man of the woods. His female counterpart is called basandere.
• Gaueko: an evil spirit that comes out at night.
• Herensuge: a dragon who plays an important role in a few legends.
• Iratxoak: Basque imps, which can be helpful or mischievous depending on how well one treats them
• Jean de l'Ours: a man born to a woman and a bear
• Jentilak: a race of giants, sometimes portrayed throwing rocks at churches.
• Lamiak or laminak: a type of nymph with bird-feet that dwelt in rivers and springs.
• Mairuak or Intxisuak: the male equivalent of lamiak in the Pyrenean region, where they are said to have built up the cromlechs.
• Odei: a nature spirit who personifies storm clouds.
• Olentzero: a jentil, the Basque equivalent of Santa Claus.
• San Martin Txiki: a popular local Christian character, is a trickster.
• Sorginak: handmaidens and assistance of the goddess Mari. The word sorginak is also used to as a term to describe witches.
• Tartalo: the Basque version of the Greco-Roman Cyclops.

References

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