- Myths and main legends of the Pacific of Colombia
- 1- Mother Water
- 2- La Patasola
- 3- The Cayman Man
- 4- La Muelona
- 5- The Bracamonte
- References
The myths and legends of the Pacific region are the product of the enormous ethnic and cultural crossroads present in the area, and most arose decades ago, in times when there was no reasonable scientific explanation for certain physical manifestations of nature.
Today they are part of the folk heritage not only of the Pacific region but of all of Colombia.
In general, these legends refer to supernatural beings of a malicious nature, who deceive or take advantage of careless and innocent people, or simply seek to punish those who have committed a crime or misdeed.
Myths and main legends of the Pacific of Colombia
These stories usually survive thanks to oral tradition and to a lesser extent written. It is common for them to be told as horror stories to scare children and teach a moral.
1- Mother Water
This legend tells that on the banks of rivers and lakes lives a woman of incomparable beauty (a nymph), with blue eyes and black hair, capable of attracting children with her song.
That child who listened to her song would fall hopelessly hypnotized and would enter the water looking for her until drowning. The legend is possibly inspired by the ancient stories of the mermaids that drew sailors to their end.
For this reason it is customary to never let children walk along the river bank alone. Adult men can also fall under its spell. If they got too close to the water, the nymph would catch them and take them to the bottom to devour them.
2- La Patasola
In the mountains and forests of the Pacific region, prowls a woman who jumps on one leg (hence her name), looking for innocent peasants and passersby whom she seduces and then devours them.
Sometimes she takes the form of a beautiful woman capable of making any man fall in love, however her face is covered.
If someone tries to kiss him his shape will change to eyes of fire and big fangs.
3- The Cayman Man
The myth of the alligator man arose from a man named Saúl Montenegro, who liked to spy on women while they bathed in the river. For this he used potions that turned him into an alligator.
Unfortunately, one day he scared one of his friends, who accidentally broke the potion bottle on his head, condemning him to stay forever a man-headed alligator.
4- La Muelona
The muelona is an entity that torments drunk and womanizing men, attracting them thanks to its appearance, and then taking them to a secluded place and devouring them with its huge teeth.
Its name "muelona" refers to the huge teeth it has. Like other myths like La Llorona or El Silbón, it announces its presence by making noise, in this case by grinding its teeth.
5- The Bracamonte
It is a supernatural creature that no human being has ever seen, devouring anyone who crosses its path and emitting hideous bellows that terrify livestock.
The only way to protect yourself from a bracamonte is to drive a stake with the skull of a cow, as the creature fears the bones of its prey.
References
- Legends of the Pacific Region (nd). Retrieved on October 20, 2017, from Colombian Myths and Legends.
- The Bracamonte (nd). Retrieved on October 20, 2017, from Country Colombia.
- Myths and Legends (2010). Retrieved on October 20, 2017, from Rico Pacífico.
- Valentina Jaramillo Céspedes (sf). Myths of the Pacific and Andean region. Retrieved on October 20, 2017, from La Casa de Los Mitos.
- Colombia Cultural (sf). Retrieved on October 20, 2017, from the National Cultural Information System.