Muisca mythology

Muisca mythology

Mythological creatures

• Thomagata, said to have been one of the most religious of the zaques, after Idacansás
• Idacansás, allegedly a mythical priest from Sugamuxi who was able to change the order of things
• Goranchacha, a mythical cacique who moved the capital of the northern Muisca from Ramiriquí to the later capital Hunza
• Pacanchique, according to Muisca myths recovered his fiancé Azay from ruler Quemuenchatocha by first turning her into a dead person and then bringing her back to life using different plants. He also showed the Spanish conquistadores the way to Nemequene's palaceOther Muisca people where human and mythological character converge are:
• Hunzahúa, first zaque of Hunza, allegedly committing incest with his sister and said to have fled
• Meicuchuca, first zipa of Bacatá, one of his wives mythologically turned into a snake

  Other Muisca myths

• El Dorado, the man or city made of gold, that was not so mythical but a main motive for the Spanish to conquer Colombia. The ritual is represented in the Muisca raft, a piece of gold working found in Pasca almost 400 years after the arrival of the Spanish
• Monster of Lake Tota, allegedly a monstrous snake or fish living in Lake Tota
• Hunzahúa Well, a well that according to the mythology of the Muisca originated from spilled chicha when the mother of Hunzahúa caught him and his older sister, Noncetá, while they were copulating.
• Fura and Tena, the first woman and man created by the god Are to populate the earth. Because Fura was not faithful, they lost their immortality, so they aged and died. Are took pity on them and turned them into rocky crags protected from storms, and Fura's tears became into emeralds.