Iara

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This article is about a character of the Brazilian mythology. For the place in the Oio Region in Guinea-Bissau, see Iara, Guinea-Bissau.

Iara is the name of a figure from Brazilian mythology based on ancient Tupi / Guaraní mythology. The word derives from Old Tupi yîara = y + îara (water + lord/lady) = lady of the lake (water queen).

Iara was a beautiful young woman, sometimes described as having green hair and light skin, connected to a freshwater water body (the Tupi word y did not have a distinct meaning, being used in general for any such place) who would would sit on a rock by the river combing her hair or dazing under the sun. When she felt a man around she would start to sing gently to lure him. Once under the spell of the Iara a man would leave anything to live with her under water for ever, which was not necessarily a bad thing, as she was pretty and would cater for all needs of her lover for the rest of his life.

Iaras are immortal (like the nymphs of Greek mythology), but her lovers do age and die, which means that they live most of the eternity alone.

The legend of the Iara was one of the usual explanations for the disappearance of those who ventured alone in the jungle.

Iara (or Yara) is also a very popular female name in Brazil.