Mitológicas ISSN: 0326-5676
[email protected] Centro Argentino de Etnología Americana Argentina Ceruti, María Constanza Montañas sagradas en el país vasco y su mitología Mitológicas, vol. XXVI, 2011, pp. 29-42 Centro Argentino de Etnología Americana Buenos Aires, Argentina Disponible en: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=14620907003 Cómo citar el artículo Número completo Sistema de Información Científica Más información del artículo Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina, el Caribe, España y Portugal Página de la revista en redalyc.org Proyecto académico sin fines de lucro, desarrollado bajo la iniciativa de acceso abierto MITOLOGICAS, Vol. XXVI, Bs. As., pp. 29-4229 MONTAÑAS SAGRADAS EN EL PAIS VASCO Y SU MITOLOGIA María Constanza Ceruti* Summary: Numerous mountains in the Basque country are pilgrimage sites where local residents climb for purposes of purification and healing. Basque folklore associates megalithic monuments of mountaneous heights to the giant and deformed “gentiles” who are believed to be the custodians of material and spiritual treasures. The ancient witches, who would hide from the Inquisition in mountain caves, have inspired the mythological figure of Mari, the Basque goddess of mountains, whose abode is located on the most abrupt peaks of the Pyrinees and the Cantabric range. Her retinue of nymphs (“lamias”) and sorcerers (“sorginas”) are believed to dwell in the darkest corners of the forested mountain slopes. For the purpose of this research, the author has visited numerous megalithic sites in the Basque mountains, includ- ing the dolmen of Sagastieko Lepua on the summit of Mount Akolaxtara and the cromlech of Mulisko Gaina, in the heights of Mount Oindi; in addition to the dolmens on the slopes of the Aizgorri massif.