The Ecuadorian legends and myths Vary by region. In this article I bring you a compilation of the most famous and representative stories of Ecuador.
Ecuador, despite being a relatively small territory, is a country rich in cultures, legends and folklore. Typical Ecuadorian activities take various forms according to the area, the city and even the buildings to which they are associated.
Quito, Ecuador
Some of the folk expressions serve as inspiration for festivals while others inspire legends and popular beliefs. Some of the stories were created to keep children on trial and to avoid bad behavior.
Others belong to a vast mythology where the characters intertwine in each story, such as those belonging to the Shuar culture in the Amazon. You may also be interested in viewing 20 Mayan myths and legends .
10 well-known myths and legends from Ecuador
The Virgin of Quito, also known under the names of Virgin of the Apocalypse, winged Virgin, Virgin dancer and Virgin of Legarda
Mountain range
1- Cantuña and his pact with the devil
Cantuña was a respected indigenous in the colonial times to which he was entrusted with the construction of the atrium of the Church of San Francisco in Quito.
The pay for this work was very good, but the condition was that it had to be done in the shortest possible time. Cantuña then decided to sell his soul to the devil with the condition that all the stones of the atrium were placed there before the first rays of the sun came out.
He recorded on a stone that anyone who touched it would recognize God alone. Three little demons who worked that night could not touch the stone and left the construction incomplete.
When the devil came to take the soul of Cantuña, he claimed that the work had not been completed and that therefore could not meet the deal, winning his soul back.
2- The maiden of Pumapungo
Pumapungo, located in Cuenca, was the destination of rest preferred by the Inca emperors. This place was impressively decorated and today it is possible to visit its ruins. The place counted on a sacred source that was used exclusively by the emperor.
He was also attended by maidens known as the Virgins of the Sun. These women were raised from small in different arts and skills that used to entertain the emperors.
Nina was one of the Virgins of the Sun residing in Pumapungo and although it was prohibited, she fell in love with one of the priests of the temple. This pair used to gather on full moon nights in the gardens of the place.
When the Emperor learned of this fact he ordered the priest to be killed, but he forbade Nina to be informed of this.
The maid, seeing that her lover did not attend her meetings, finally died of moral sorrow. It is said that today in the same nights of full moon can be heard its lament among the ruins of the place.
3- The Guagua Auca
It is said that the Guagua Auca is a demon created by the soul of a child who was born and died without being baptized. This terrifies drunkards on the roads late at night. It manifests itself with a ceaseless squeal that despairs anyone.
The unsuspecting unknowingly seek the source of the scream until they find what appears to be a child wrapped in a blanket. Later people discover how the physiognomy of the supposed child changes and realize that they were actually carrying a demon.
They say that many have been found dead and with foam in the mouth as a result of the encounter with the Guagua Auca.
Coastal
4- The sad princess of Santa Ana
In the area of what is now known as Guayaquil, there was a king who kneaded a great wealth in his fortresses. The King's daughter fell ill and there was no cure for her evil.
One day a sorcerer appeared before the King and offered to cure the princess's health in exchange for all the fortune he possessed. In the face of his refusal, a spell fell on the lands inhabited by this regent, condemning his people to disappear.
Centuries later, when one of the Spanish expeditionmen climbed one of the hills in the area, he met a beautiful princess who gave him two options: he offered a beautiful city full of gold or a devoted and faithful wife to him.
The Spanish decided to opt for the city of gold and before this the princess decided to conjure a curse on him. He began to pray to the Virgin of Santa Ana to save him and he effectively rescued him. It is for this reason that the hill where the city of Guayaquil was founded was baptized with the name of Santa Ana.
5- The demon of the ravine
It is said that there is a devil who lives in the ravines near the rivers. This one is always in search of houses built in the edges to pull them towards the river.
One night, the devil disguised himself as a handsome and charming man and in his attempt to knock down the house with its inhabitants inside, he enticed the family to go to sleep at the moment.
One of the children managed to hide under a chair and fled in search of a priest. This one, with his prayers, managed to save the house and the whole family.
6- The elf
The elf is a mythical creature from different regions of Ecuador that inhabits the forests and jungles of the country. This one usually rests on great rocks in the rivers and is described to him wearing a big hat and dark clothes.
This personage usually falls in love with beautiful young women to whom he begins to follow. It calls your attention by throwing stones or whistling and is jealous when couples appear.
Some think that they are not isolated elves, but of an entire community that is distributed along caves, gorges and rivers.
Amazon
7- Kuartam the toad
This myth tells the story of a hunter of the Shuar culture who entered the forest. His wife had warned him not to mock the sound of a toad to get it.
Sure enough, the hunter in his routine ran into the particular sound and he did not notice the mocking tone. The annoying toad turned into a puma and ate part of the man's body.
His wife, upon learning what happened, decided to take revenge and find the toad. Once he found it, he knocked over the tree on which he was causing the animal's death. Inside the woman could find the remains of her husband.
8- Etsa and the demon Iwia
Iwia was a demon who used to torment the Shuar community in the jungle. One day he devoured all members of a family other than a small child (Etsa). He took him to his lair where he raised him and made him believe that he was his father.
Etsa, grew up and his job was to provide birds to Iwia for dessert. One day he realized that there were no more birds left in the forest and he became friends with a dove named Yapankam.
She told him what had happened to her parents and told her that the way to return the birds to the jungle was to put the feathers in the blowpipe and blow. So did Etsa and decided to kill the demon to free the birds from their yoke.
9- Nunkui and cassava
The Shuar had consumed all the resources of the plains they inhabited. One day Nunkui, mother earth, offered the village to his daughter as a gift. He warned them that if they took care of her, he would provide them with food of all kinds but that if they were mistreated they would suffer again from hunger.
The Shuar accepted and were able to find a quantity of food at their disposal. One day the children of the community mistreated the child and, in punishment, the land swallowed the food. That is why today, elements such as cassava have to be sought below the earth.
Galápagos
10- The wall of tears on Isabela Island
Photo retrieved from Galapagos Islands Cruises
At 5 kilometers from Puerto Villamil on the Isabela Island of the Galapagos Islands is a historical site known as the wall of tears. This one was constructed between 1945 and 1959 by prisoners who were sent to pay their penalties in the island.
The wall is about 25 meters high and is said to have killed many during its construction.
People who inhabit the island say that when the fog sits on the spot, during twilight or at night, there may be weak lamentations. Others say that the ghosts of some prisoners can be seen on the road leading to the site.
References
- Not your Average American. Cantuña - The Man Who Tricked The Devil. [Online] September 17, 2013. [Quoted on: March 13, 2017.] Retrieved from notyouraverageamerican.com.
- Martínez, Mónica. ECUADORIAN LEGENDS AND FOLKTALES: A JOURNEY FROM STORYTELLING TO READING IN THE EFL CLASSROOM. Cuenca, Ecuador: UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA, 2011.
- [Email protected] The guagua auca. [Online] October 28, 2009. [Quoted on: March 14, 2017.] Retrieved from educaccion.elcomercio.com
- Legends and myths of Ecuador. The sad princess of Santa Ana. [Online] December 2, 2013. [Quoted on: March 14, 2017.] Retrieved from leyendasymitosecuador.blogspot.com.co.
- OEI21. The Duende Ecuadorian version. [Online] May 23, 2010. [Quoted on: March 14, 2017.] Recovered from oei21mitos.blogspot.com.co.
- View Profile THE TOAD KUARTAM BECOMES TIGER. [Online] [Quoted on: March 14, 2017.] Retrieved from visitecuador.com.ec.
- MYTHS AND LEGENDS. ETSA (LEGEND SHUAR). [Online] March 12, 2009. [Quoted on: March 14, 2017.] Recovered from ecua-torianisimo1.blogspot.com.co.
- Lira, Luz María Lepe. Songs of women in the Amazon. Bogotá: Andrés Bello Agreement, 2005. 958-698-181-9.
- Galawiki. The Wall of Tears in the Galapagos Islands. [Online] November 3, 2016. [Quoted on: March 14, 2017.] Retrieved from galakiwi.com.