Chilote mythology

The Chilote mythology or Chilota mythology is formed by the myths, legends and beliefs of the people who live in the Chiloé Archipelago, in the south of Chile. This mythology, reflects the importance of the sea in the life of Chilotes.

Chilote mythology is based on a mixture of indigenous religions (the Chonos and Huilliches) that live in the Archipelago of Chiloé, and the legends and superstitions brought by the Spanish Conquistadores, who in 1567 began the process of conquest in Chiloé and with it the fusion of elements that would form a separate mythology.

Chilota mythology flourished, isolated from other beliefs and myths in Chile, due to the separation of the archipelago from the rest of the Spanish occupation in Chile, when the Mapuches occupied or destroyed by all the Spanish settlements between the Bío-Bío River and the Chacao channel following the disaster of Curalaba in 1598.

The Gods of Chiloe

The gods played an important role in Chiloe's mythology. There were deities that were very powerful, such as Pillán, who was the god of lightning and producer of volcanic eruptions. Auchimalgen defended the people from dangerous and evil spells. There were also many evil gods such as Huecuvus, who caused sickness and unfavorable climate changes. There were many murderous gods such as Chonchonyi, who sucked its victim's blood until they died, as well as Pihuechenyi, a vampire god, who sucked blood from "sleepy Indians". With the balance of good and evil gods, evolved a new generation of monsters and legends that shaped the identity of the island's culture.