Lamia (Basque mythology)
{{Short description|Creature from Basque mythology}}
{{about|a creature from Basque mythology|the figure from Greek mythology|Lamia}}
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File:Lamina1.jpg lamina]]
File:Lamia Garagartzan Arrasate 2007-01-01.JPG, Gipuzkoa]]
The {{lang|eu|lamia}} (or {{lang|eu|lamina}}) (plural: {{lang|eu|lamiak}} or {{lang|eu|laminak}}) is a siren or nereid-like creature in Basque mythology.{{cite web |url=http://www.euskaltzaindia.net/index.php?option=com_oeh&view=frontpage&Itemid=413&lang=eu |title=lamia |author= |date= |website=Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia |publisher=Euskaltzaindia (Academy of the Basque Language) |access-date=12 July 2012}}{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PZdinjNiimYC&pg=PA107 | title=Basque Legends in their Social Context | publisher=Basque Studies Program | website=Essays In Basque Social Anthropology And History | year=1989 | access-date=12 July 2012 | author=Williams, Elena Arana | pages=119–120| isbn=9781877802027 }} 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|date=March 2023}}
Mythology in coastal areas includes {{lang|eu|itsaslamiak}}, a variety of lamiak who live in the sea and have fish-like tails, similar to a mermaid.
Beliefs
Basque mythology depicts {{lang|eu|lamiak}} as generous, aiding those who give them presents by helping them at work. For example, if a farmer were to leave food for them at the river shore, they would eat it at night and in exchange finish ploughing his field. In some places, bridges were believed to have been built at night by {{lang|eu|lamiak}}, for example at Ebrain (Bidarray, Lower Navarre), Azalain (Andoain, Gipuzkoa), Urkulu (Leintz-Gatzaga, Gipuzkoa), Liginaga-Astüe (Labourd).
In other myths, {{lang|eu|lamiak}} must leave if the bridge that they were building at night remains unfinished at cockcrow. People believed that {{lang|eu|lamia}}k had left a river if a stone in the bridge was missing. Other beliefs claim that most {{lang|eu|lamiak}} disappeared when men built small churches in the forest.
{{lang|eu|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 {{lang|eu|lamiak}}. In those stories, they are described as strong and are attributed with the creation of dolmens at night. It is also said that they can enter a house at night when its inhabitants are sleeping. They are given different names: {{lang|eu|Maideak}}, {{lang|eu|Mairiak}}, {{lang|eu|Mairuak}}, {{lang|eu|Intxixuak}} (in Oiartzun, Gipuzkoa), {{lang|eu|Saindi Maidi}} (in Lower Navarre).
Many toponyms relate to {{lang|eu|lamiak}}, including Lamikiz (Markina), Laminaputzu (in Zeanuri), Lamitegi (in Bedaio), Lamirain (in Arano), Lamusin (in Sare), Lamiñosin (in Ataun).
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus/en/lamia/ar-84676/ Lamia] in the Spanish-language Auñamendi Encyclopedia
Category:Basque legendary creatures
Category:Female legendary creatures