THE 5 MOST POPULAR LAMBAYEQUE LEGENDS AND MYTHS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The legends and myths of Lambayeque include stories that refer to its indigenous past. But there are also stories that speak of the tradition of the Catholic faith imposed by Westerners.

Lambayeque is a coastal department of the Republic of Peru. As was characteristic throughout the Peruvian coast, this region was quickly dominated by the Spanish during the time of the Conquest.

Carob tree, subject of a Lambayeque myth

However, the peasants managed to remain faithful to many of their ancestral cultural references.

The stories before and after the Conquest have some elements in common, such as the origin of the world and the values ​​of good and evil.

The 5 main legends of Lambayeque

1- Legend of Naylamp

The legend of Naylamp was recorded by the chronicler Miguel Cabello de Balboa in the 16th century. The story goes that Naylamp, a mysterious leader commanding a fleet of rafts, arrived on the north coast.

His court included his wife Ceterni and several concubines. Upon landing, he presented the god Yampallec to the locals, a green jade effigy that had its own physical characteristics.

To worship him, a whole village was built with houses, palaces and a temple. Thus, the god Yampallec gave rise to the name lambayeque.

After Naylamp's death, his descendants spread the belief that he had ascended to heaven on his own wings. His supposed immortality created him the fame of divine character.

2- Myth of the origin of the Mochica Indian and the carob

According to myth, nothing existed before creation on earth except for a tiny carob tree.

It produced nothing and meant nothing. One day, without intending to, he curled the feet of the evil genius. This allowed the benign forces of the genius of good to captivate him.

As a reward, he chose him to be a man on the outside and a god on the inside. This would be the origin of the Mochica Indian.

However, the evil forces condemned the tree to turn to ash. Therefore, the carob tree must suffer severe droughts, powerful winds and other adverse conditions.

3- The hill of the old and the old

Many legends and myths of Lambayeque are related to the orography of the place. Such is the case of the legend of the hill of the old and the old man.

The ancestors say that a couple of old men lived on a hill between Lambayeque and Motupe. One day, Jesus Christ himself came to them and asked for water since he was thirsty.

They refused and Jesus Christ turned them to stone. According to what they say, a rock falls every year from this hill and at that moment the old men of the legend cry out.

4- Myth of the god Kon

Some legends and myths of Lambayeque deal with the creation of the world. The myth of the god Kon is an example of this.

According to belief, this god appeared from the north by sea. Although he was in human form, Kon lacked bones or flesh.

He was the son of the Sun and, as such, he could travel mountains and valleys with only his will and word. He created the world and human beings, and provided them with abundant water and fruits.

Then he punished the men for forgetting the offerings. It took away the rains and transformed the fertile lands into deserts, leaving only a few rivers. With these they could support themselves with irrigation and work.

5- The Chalpón hill and the Rajado hill

The history of Cerro Chalpón and Cerro Rajado illustrates the eternal dichotomy between good and evil. The legend speaks of twin brothers who were to be guardians of divine law.

These lived and died as men. However, one was dedicated to God, represented on the Chalpón hill; and the other to the devil, which was the Rajado hill.

On the Chalpón hill there is a spring of clear water, a cave and a garden. Instead, dirty and smelly water comes out of the well on Rajado hill. This has contributed to this legend taking hold in popular belief.

References

1. Arguedas, JM and Izquierdo Ríos, F. (Editors) (2009). Peruvian myths, legends and stories. Madrid: Siruela Editions.
2. The legend of Naylamp, the tumi and the origin of the name lambayeque. (2004, April 02). In Peru Country. Retrieved on November 21, 20117, from perupais.com
3. Cairati, E. (2013). Cultural history of the carob tree, from the Mediterranean basin to the North Coast of Peru. In Altre Modernità: Rivista di studi letterari e culturali, Nº. 10, pp. 186-204.
4. Kon. Creator God. (s / f). In Native Peoples / Gods and mythical characters. Retrieved on November 21, 20117, from pueblosoriginario.com
5. The Chalpón hill and the Rajado hill. Myths and legends. (2011, February). Retrieved on November 21, 20117, from es.diarioinca.com