Lamia (Basque mythology)

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This article is about a creature from Basque mythology. For the figure from Greek mythology, see Lamia.
Basque
lamina
Arrasate
, Gipuzkoa

The lamia (or lamina) (plural: lamiak or laminak) is a

nereid-like creature in Basque mythology.[1][2] Lamiak are typically portrayed as living in and around rivers. They are depicted as beautiful, long-haired women with webbed duck feet, usually found at the river shore brushing their hair with a golden comb and seducing men. [citation needed
]

Mythology in coastal areas includes itsaslamiak, a variety of lamiak who live in the sea and have fish-like tails, similar to a mermaid.

Beliefs

In Basque

Liginaga-Astüe (Labourd
).

In other myths, lamiak must leave if the bridge that they were building at night was left unfinished at cockcrow. People believed that lamiak had left a river if a stone in the bridge was missing. Other beliefs claim that most lamiak disappeared when men built small churches in the forest.

Lamiak are also believed to be found on the other side of rainbows, where they are combing their hair. It is said that when the sunlight strikes their hair, the rainbow opens.

Mythology also occasionally describes male lamiak. In those stories, they are described as strong and are attributed with the creation of

Mairuak, Intxixuak (in Oiartzun, Gipuzkoa), Saindi Maidi (in Lower Navarre
).

Many toponyms are related to lamiak, including Lamikiz (Markina), Laminaputzu (in Zeanuri), Lamitegi (in Bedaio), Lamirain (in Arano), Lamusin (in Sare), Lamiñosin (in Ataun).

See also

References

  1. ^ "lamia". Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia. Euskaltzaindia (Academy of the Basque Language). Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  2. ISBN 9781877802027. Retrieved July 12, 2012. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help
    )

External links
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