The Chilote mythology or Chilota mythology is formed by the myths, legends and beliefs of the people who live in the Chiloé Archipelago

Chiloé Archipelago

Chiloé Archipelago consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile. It is separated from mainland Chile by Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and Gulf of Corcovado to the southeast. All of the archipelago except Desertores Islands, which are part of Palena...

, in the south of Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

. This mythology, reflects the importance of the sea in the life of Chilotes.

Chilote mythology is based on a mixture of indigenous religions (the Chono

Chono

Chono or Chona is a generic name for a nomadic, indigenous people of the Chiloé Archipelago, Chile. They are now extinct.The Chono became extinct during the 18th century with the last survivor going missing in 1875....

s and Huilliche

Huilliche

The Huilliche is an ethnic group of Chile, belonging to the Mapuche culture. They live in mountain valleys in an area south of Toltén River and on Chiloé Archipelago...

s) that live in the Archipelago of Chiloé, and the legends and superstitions brought by the Spanish Conquistador

Conquistador

Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...

es, 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 Mapuche

Mapuche

The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...

s occupied or destroyed by all the Spanish settlements between the Bío-Bío River

Bío-Bío River

The Biobío River is the second largest river in Chile. It originates from Icalma and Galletué lakes in the Andes and flows 380 km to the Gulf of Arauco on the Pacific Ocean....

 and the Chacao

Chacao

Chacao may refer to the following articles:*Chacao Municipality - a municipality of Caracas, Venezuela*Chacao Channel*Chacao Channel bridge*Chacao , a Venezuelan cacique from the 16th century*Chacao Indian...

 channel following the disaster of Curalaba

Disaster of Curalaba

The Disaster of Curalaba is the name given to a battle between Spanish conquerors led by Martín García Óñez de Loyola and Mapuche people led by Pelantaru on a place called Curalaba , in southern Chile...

 in 1598.

Legends and mythical creatures

Myths and mythical creatures of Chiloé

Chiloé Archipelago

Chiloé Archipelago consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile. It is separated from mainland Chile by Chacao Channel in the north, the Sea of Chiloé in the east and Gulf of Corcovado to the southeast. All of the archipelago except Desertores Islands, which are part of Palena...

, in southern Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 include:

• The Basilisco Chilote
  Basilisco Chilote
  The Basilisco chilote is a creature from Chilota mythology originating the Chiloé Archipelago, in southern Chile.The Basislico chilote is described as having the crest of a rooster and the body of a serpent. It is hatched from an egg that is incubated by a rooster and lives in hole which it digs...
  
  (a type of Basilisk
  Basilisk
  In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk is a legendary reptile reputed to be king of serpents and said to have the power to cause death with a single glance...
  
  )
• The Brujo Chilote (a type of sorcerer)
• The Caballo marino chilote
  Caballo marino chilote
  The Caballo marino chilote is an aquatic creature of the Chilote mythology of Chile, that bears some resemblance to the hippocampus....
  
  (a type of water horse
  Water Horse
  A Water Horse is a Celtic mythical creature, such as the Ceffyl Dŵr and Kelpie, as well as other water dwelling cryptids.-Name origin:The term "water horse" was originally a name given to the kelpie, a horse like creature similar to the hippocamp that has the head, neck and mane of a normal horse,...
  
  )
• The Caleuche
  Caleuche
  "The Caleuche" is a mythical ghost ship of the Chilote mythology and local folklore of the Chiloé Island, in Chile. It is one of the most important myths of the culture of Chile.-Legend:...
  
  
• The Camahueto
  Camahueto
  The Camahueto from the Mythology of Chiloé has the form of a calf or bull, with a small horn on its forehead, similar to a unicorn.-Legends:The horn is the most valuable part of the animal, which machis use to plant small pieces in the earth from which other camahuetos will grow...
  
  
• The Cape or Skin
• The Chucao
• The Cuchivilo
• The Coñieuma (a double flower that screams as a child on new moon)
• The Fiura
• La Condená ("The Condemned")
• The macabre Invunche
  Invunche
  In the Chilote folklore and Chilote mythology of the Chiloé Island in southern Chile, the imbunche or invunche is a legendary monster that protects the entrance to a warlock's cave.-Legend:...
  
  
• Chiloé (mytological origin). The legend of Ten ten Vilu, Coi coi Vilu and Origin of the Archipelago
• The Millalobo
• The Peuchen
  Peuchen
  The Peuchen is a creature from the Mapuche mythology and Chilote mythology pertaining to southern Chile, a much feared shapeshifting creature which could instantly change into animal form.It has often been described as gigantic flying snake which produced strange whistling sounds, while its gaze...
  
  or Piguchen
• The Pésame
• The Pincoya
  Pincoya
  The Pincoya is, according to local mythology, a female "water spirit" of the Chilotan Seas. The Pincoya is said to have long blond hair, be of incomparable beauty, be cheerful and sensual, and rise from the depths of the sea.-Legends:...
  
  , goddess of the Chiloean Seas
• The Pincoy
  Pincoy
  The Pincoy is a male "water spirit" of the seas, belonging to the chilote mythology of Chiloé, Chile.It looks equivalent to a Merman creature, his body would be like a large sea lion, colour bright golden, with handsome and manly human face and long golden hair, being magically attractive to the...
  
  
• The Sirena chilota
  Sirena chilota
  La Sirena chilota is an aquatic creature belonging to the Chilote mythology. Perhaps its origin is due to binding of the myths of the Sumpall of the Mapuche mythology and the Mermaid of European mythology. Like to the mermaids, the siren chilota is characterized by a body half fish and half woman,...
  
   (a type of Mermaid
  Mermaid
  A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
  
  )
• The Trauco
  Trauco
  In the traditional Chilota mythology of Chiloé, the Trauco is a humanoid creature of small stature - similar to a dwarf or goblin - who lives in the deep forests. It has with an ugly face, and legs without feet.- Legend :...