Basque mythology

A reproduction of a Hilarri, a Basque gravestone, from 1736 with commonly found symbols

The mythology of the ancient Basques largely did not survive the arrival of Christianity in the Basque Country between the 4th and 12th century AD. Most of what is known about elements of this original belief system is based on the analysis of legends, the study of place names and scant historical references to pagan rituals practised by the Basques.

One main figure of this belief system was the female character of Mari. According to legends collected in the area of Ataun, the other main figure was her consort Sugaar. However, due to the scarcity of the material it is difficult to say if this would have been the "central pair" of the Basque pantheon. Based on the attributes ascribed to these mythological creatures, this would be considered a chthonic religion as all its characters dwell on earth or below it, with the sky seen mostly as an empty corridor through which the divinities pass.

Christianity in the Basque Country

Basque laminak.

The Christianization of the Basque Country has been the topic of some discussion. Broadly speaking there are two views: either Christianity arrived in the Basque Country during the 4th and 5th century, or this did not occur until the 12th and 13th century.^[1] The main issue lies in the different interpretations of what is considered Christianization. Early traces of Christianity can be found in the major urban areas from the 4th century onwards, a bishopric from 589 in Pamplona and three hermit cave concentrations (two in Álava, one in Navarre) were in use from the 6th century onwards.^[1] In this sense, Christianity arrived "early".

At the same time, various historical sources and research directly or indirectly bear witness to the fact that large-scale conversion did not begin to take place until the 10th and 11th century:

• the bishops of Pamplona were frequently absent from the Synods of Toledo during the Visigoth period^[1]
• reports of a failed mission by Bishop Amandus around 640 AD^[1]
• Arab authors from the time of the Umayyad conquest of Hispania labeled the Basques as being mağūs or "wizards, pagans"^[1]
• the famous cemetery of Argiñeta in Biscay from around 880 AD with Basque gravestones totally devoid of any Christian symbols^[1]
• the comparatively low density of religious centers in the Atlantic Basque Country until the 15th century^[1]

Most Vasconists broadly agree that Christianity thus arrived some time in the 4th/5th century. Serious missionary and religious activity only began in the 9th century from the kingdom of Asturias and Franks, and continued after the Reconquista with famous monastic foundations (Monastery of Leyre, San Millán de la Cogolla) and the diocese of Bayonne in the 11th century. Thus Christian and non-Christian beliefs lived side by side past the 10th and 11th century. Various traditions connected to this ancient belief system have survived partly by adapting a Christian veneer or by turning into folk traditions, as happened elsewhere in Europe.

However, in spite of the process of Christianization being completed late, the process was thorough and very little direct evidence remains of pre-Christian beliefs. For this reason research into the matter tends to be putative as it has to rely on the analysis of folklore, folk traditions, sketchy references and place-name evidence.^[2][3][4][5]

Historical sources

The main sources for information about non-Christian Basque beliefs are:^[1]

• Strabo who mentions the sacrifice of male goats and humans.
• Arab writers from the time of the Umayyad conquest of Hispania
• The 12th century diary of the pilgrim Aymeric Picaud
• Various medieval sources making references to pagan rituals, including the records of the Inquisition
• 19th and 20th century collections of myths and folk-tales, for example by José Miguel Barandiaran. This is by far the largest body of material relating to non-Christian beliefs and practices
• the modern study of place-names in the Basque Country

Mythological creatures and characters

Cave featuring Mari´s face (basque goddess)

Basajaun

Tartalo

The Akelarre

• Aatxe: or Etsai is a cave-dwelling evil spirit who adopts the form of a young red bull, but being a shapeshifter, sometimes takes the shape of a man.
• Atxular and Mikelatz are said to be sons of Mari, among others.
• Basajaun: the wild man of the woods and his female version: basandere.
• Eki: the solar deity, the daughter of Lurbira.
• Galtzagorriak are a specific type of iratxoak (imps).
• Gaueko is an evil character of the night.
• Herensuge is the name of a dragon who plays an important role in a few legends.
• Erge is an evil spirit that takes men's lives.
• Ilargi or Ile are the known names of the Moon, also a daughter of Ama Lur.
• Iratxoak: imps.
• Jean de l'Ours, a man born to a woman and a bear
• Jentilak (gentiles): giants, sometimes portrayed throwing rocks at churches. They are believed to be pagan Basques themselves, seen from a partly Christianized viewpoint. A surviving jentil is Olentzero, the Basque equivalent of Santa Claus.
• Lamiak or laminak, a type of nymph with bird-feet that dwelt in rivers and springs.
• Mairuak or Intxisuak are the male equivalent of lamiak in the Pyrenean region, where they are said to have built up the cromlechs.
• Mari is depicted in many different forms: sometimes as various women, as different red animals, as the black he-goat, etc. Her consort Sugaar, however, appears only as a man or a serpent/dragon. Mari is said to be served by the sorginak, semi-mythical creatures impossible to differentiate from actual witches or pagan priestesses. The cadre of witches near Zugarramurdi met at the Akelarre field and were the target of the Spanish Inquisition's largest witch hunt at Logroño. As a result, akelarre in Basque and aquelarre in Spanish are today still the local names of the sabbat.
• Odei is a personification of storm clouds.
• San Martin Txiki, a popular local Christian character, is a trickster.
• Sorginak are both mythological beings that travel with Mari and real witches.
• Tartalo: the Basque version of the Greco-Roman Cyclops.

The Urtzi controversy

Urtzi may or may not have been a Basque mythological figure. There is evidence that can be read as either supporting or contradicting the existence of such a deity. To date neither theory has been able to convince fully.^[6]

Myths of the historical period

After Christianization, the Basques kept producing and importing myths.

• Jaun Zuria is the mythical first Lord of Biscay, said to be born of a Scottish princess who had an encounter with the god Sugaar in the village of Mundaka.
• The battle of Roncesvalles was mythified in the cycle of the Matter of France.
• In the Aralar Range, Saint Michael was said to appear to assist a local noble turned hermit.
• The coat of arms of Navarre was said to come from a feat in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.
• The battle of Amaiur was the battle where Navarre lost its independence to the Crown of Castile.

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Basque mythology.

• Ortíz-Osés, A. Antropología simbólica vasca Anthropos, 1985. El matriarcalismo vasco Universidad de Deusto, 1988. El inconsciente colectivo vasco, 1982.
• Barandiaran, J.M. Mitologia Vasca Txertoa, 1996
• Hartsuaga, J.I. Euskal Mitologia Konparatua, Kriseilu, 1987.
• La Paglia, Antonio. Beyond Greece and Rome: Faith and Worship in Ancient Europe, Black Mountain Press, 2004.
• Everson, M. Tenacity in religion, myth, and folklore: the Neolithic Goddess of Old Europe preserved in a non-Indo-European setting, Journal of Indo-European Studies 17, 277 (1989).
• Satrústegi, J (1996). "Haitzuloetako euskal mitologia". Euskal Mitologia. 68: 165–174. 
• Arriaga, J. (1984). "Euskal mitologia". Gero. 
• Baroja, Caro (1995). "Lamiak, sorginak eta jainkosak". Gaiak (Euskal mitologia).