Mythology Monday is something that I’ve been doing for a few weeks. This is actually probably the 6th or 7th Mythology Monday, but it is the first in a new set devoted to introducing readers to characters, gods, and monsters conceived in the minds of both pre-Columbus inhabitants of Central and South America, and those who lived in the Americas following the arrival of Columbus, Europe, and eventually the rest of the world. These will also be the very first with original introductions done in a format reminiscent of a story. Basically very tiny pieces of original writing introducing the specific character, or monster (including types of creatures as opposed to unique beings without any creatures like them, such as the Tsunki who were creatures in Shuar mythology), or deities. Basically these differ from previous Mythology Monday’s because they are devoted to discussing Latin American myths and feature unique short-story style introductions which showcase methods in which these entities and conceptual creatures could be used as inspiration for stories and portrayals in artwork. There are two reasons for this. 1 is to showcase that these beings “exist” in the sense that other gods and monsters exist, the other is demonstrate methods in which these beings could be used by people who want to work in fantasy or create fantasy content (by this I mean books, T.V. shows, movies, video games, etc.). And now it’s time that we meet El Lal.
Noshtex possessed a host of deadly powers. Most notably his infamous ability to shapeshift. The ability which allowed him to survive the dangerous forest his son had brought to life, while fleeing from his gluttonous clutches. But now Noshtex was in pain. Noshtex was hiding. Lurking inside a near-mythical forest while he struggles to regenerate and reassembly himself over hundreds of years ribbons of flesh, bones, and internal organs are slowly inching towards each other, merging when they come into contact with each other. Noshtex the ravenous, internally howled. His mind was being continually wracked with pain, and the occasional moments of clarity kept the giant focused enough to try and reassemble himself piece by piece and bone by bone. “I’ll be back Elal. Don’t you worry about that.” The giant promised, continually swearing to take his son’s home in the sky by storm one day. In a small forest, hidden by powerful magic, a near invulnerable giant bides his time, patiently and painfully. It is possible that one day the world will tremble in fear as a reassembled Noshtex reappears and lays siege to the world.
El-Lal (or Elal) is a strange mythic being from the Tehuelche mythology. He is the son of (according to Spanish sources) a Cloud and a Giant. His myth revolves around him playing a crucial role in ensuring that mankind can begin to use weapons and tools, and eventually him defeating his father the cruel giant Nosjthej (Noshtex). He is rescued by a rodent (rodent person, seemingly an anthropomorphic rodent), when his father decides to eat him shortly after his birth. In some versions of this myth, Terr-Uer is his grandmother, the mother of his mother. In every version of the myth Terr-Uer is Elal’s guardian, and teaches the young godling about tools, weapons, and the world.
Elal becomes a champion for mankind, teaching humanity about tools and fire. At the end of his legend he goes into the sky and according to some awaits mankind acting as a critical figure in the afterlife, leading hunts.
Information about Elal:
Mother: Teo (a cloud, apparently, or a rat alternatively)
Father: Noshtex (a giant)
Grand-Mother: Terr-Uer according to some sources whenever Teo isn’t shown as a cloud but as a rat (a rat-lady)
Species: Possibly a godling? English sources describe him as a mortal, but other English sources talk about a story where he turns into a gadfly.
Talents: archery, and weapon use.
Feats: teaching humanity and defeating Noshtex
Prophecy related to his birth: Any son/child of Teo’s will be stronger than their father. This is why Noshtex decides to try and get rid of Elal from the onset.
Kills Noshtex by kicking him, prompting Noshtex to chase him and eventually firing an arrow which turns into a jungle with thorns which cut away the skin of the furious giant, and the giant in his fury doesn’t feel any pain, until it’s too late. The swarm of thorns contain chunks of his flesh and internal organs.
Tehuelche afterlife: Works with Uendeunk (the kind guardian spirit) to judge the souls of humans upon their deaths. Tries to determine the goodness of individual Tehuelche upon their deaths, including if they taught their children about Elal. If determined to be worthy the Tehuelche will get to stay with Elal.
The Tehuelche are an indigenous people in the region known contemporarily as “Patagonia”, which is in southern Chile and Argentina. Giants are recurring beings in the mythologies throughout this area. Tehuelche still exist (debately), and is a generic name given to a group of inhabitants of the Patagonia region, despite the last speaker of Gununa’Kuna (northern Tehuelche) dying in 1960 and only some speakers of Aonik’enk (southern Tehuelche) existing in the modern era.
Some sources:
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/south-american-mythology.php?deity=EL-LAL
http://www.cascada.travel/News/Tehuelche-Tribes-Patagonia
http://www.taringa.net/posts/info/968016/Mitologia-Tehuelche—Aonikenk.html (Spanish)
http://www.alconet.com.ar/varios/mitologia/patagonia/koock.html
A Spanish telling of some part’s of Elal’s myth which includes a giant brutally beating a cloud so that a baby comes out. Even if you can’t understand Spanish this video is worth watching, if nothing else the very first minute and a half is.
In which children (also in Spanish) act out the Tehuelche equivalent of Genesis (also known as Kooch and the creation of the world). Albeit with less genocide and incest. P.S.: The ocean is created because a deity is sad and alone, and starts to cry.
As an added note: If you like doing this sort of thing just wait until some sources are directly in conflict with each other. Or some sources in other languages have added “facts” that other sources don’t mention. It’s guaranteed to be a fun time.
This is really interesting, and I loved the video. So, the Egyptians had a god who wanked off to create the world, and here we have a giant beating a cloud to create a baby. And everybody just nodded their heads and said “Yup, that makes sense to me.”
Thank you! I find it incredibly interesting to write about mythology. I considered noting the comparisons to Greek and Egyptian mythologies especially with Noshtex wanting to eat Elal, but I knew people would make that leap themselves.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post! 😀
By dropping a few words into the ears of particular Orthodox/Lubavitcher/etc rabbis, one might well stir up a nice chain-reaction tantrum about the Israeli national airline sharing a name with this pagan Prometheus…
Wouldn’t it be lovely? Especially because this myth is most definitely older than airplanes. But I’m sure they’d be able to find some Torah-approved way to sneak around sharing the name.
Finally, something to look forward to on Mondays! 🙂
I happen to live in the lands of the Tehuelche and knew about some of these legends and many others. In fact, I’ve always been fascinated by the history and mythology of the South American native peoples and I’ve read plenty of stuff about them; a sizable section of my library is dedicated to the subject. I still have a lot to read and a lot to learn though, so I’ll be looking forward to your future entries on this series. I’m glad to see someone as far up north as you appreciating our less (globally) popular native cultures!
Regarding the conflicting sources, it’s indeed something that happens quite often, especially with exclusively oral traditions such as these; groups within the same culture may have different spins on the same tales as a result of drifting apart and/or being influenced by other cultures. And then there’s the issue of the reliability of both the sources and the investigators… some of the later tend to sensationalize their findings and/or let their biases taint them, and the former… well, every culture has its fair share of trolls and assorted bullshitters!