Traditional Art: The Myths
The Amazon is home to myths and legends that are as vast and mysterious as the jungle itself. Some have ancient roots, and others are urban legends that evolved after the European conquest. It is hard to tell if some of the stories are true but one thing can be sure, the Amazonian Jungle is a very vast and mysterious place where anything can happen.
El Tunchi is an evil spirit that haunts the jungle. They say it makes an eerie, whistling sound. Some say he’s a collection of all the souls that have died in the rain forest, while other legends describe him as the ghost of a man who became lost and died in the jungle. El Tunchi is angered by anyone who disrespects nature and its enviroment. He is also drawn to people who respond to his whistle. Not doing so is easier said than done—the whistle gets increasingly louder and higher pitched, and listeners have an unbearable urge to mimic the tune. They say those who answer his call are sure to meet a hideous death.
The Mapinguari is similar to the big-footed creatures that we have heard of from around the world. This Amazonian myth, though, is quite a bit more pugnacious. It aggressively pursues human hunters instead of running and hiding. Most descriptions of him are quite bizarre including backward armadillo feet, a single eye, and a gaping mouth in his stomach. While there’s some disagreement about his appearance, all agree that he’s tall, smells like death and garlic, and has thick fur over his impenetrable body.
There are many types of Lupuna trees in the Amazonian Jungle and the myths about them vary. The trees are beautiful, massive and said to possess magic. They are considered protectors of the jungle and curse anyone who offends them.
Bufeo Colorado is a pink dolphin who shape-shifts into an attractive fisherman. He uses his enchantments to lure girls away and convince them to have relations with him. If he succeeds, the girl becomes pregnant and gives birth to a pink dolphin. Bufeo is relentless and shows up night after night—until he gets his way or is exposed. The only way to break his power is to fool him into running out the doorway of a high, stilted house, which will cause him to fall to the ground and transform back into a dolphin.
Pirarucu was a brave yet heartless young warrior. Vain and overly proud of his position as the chief’s son, he would criticize the gods and when his father was away, he executed villagers without reason.
Tupa (the “god of gods”) became fed up with Pirarucu’s behavior and ordered the goddess of torrents to unleash a furious rainstorm on him. Pirarucu was fishing when he saw the storm coming his way but merely laughed it off. While the other villagers ran in fright, a bolt of lightning struck Pirarucu and threw him into the Tocantins River, where he was transformed into a giant fish who now roams the freshwater rivers in the Amazon.
Tupa (the “god of gods”) became fed up with Pirarucu’s behavior and ordered the goddess of torrents to unleash a furious rainstorm on him. Pirarucu was fishing when he saw the storm coming his way but merely laughed it off. While the other villagers ran in fright, a bolt of lightning struck Pirarucu and threw him into the Tocantins River, where he was transformed into a giant fish who now roams the freshwater rivers in the Amazon.
La Sachamama is the spirit mother of the jungle. She has the body of a giant boa constrictor with a massive shell. She has grown so large that she can no longer move freely about the jungle and stays in a single spot, allowing vegetation to grow over her body and serve as camouflage. If unsuspecting human or animal get too close, the Sachamama will devour them whole.