Giant Water Lily legend
Tupi-Guarani origin story of the giant water lily.
Last updated
The Giant Water Lily legend, also known as the Vitória Régia legend, is an origin story from the Tupi-Guarani indigenous people of Brazil. It explains the creation of the giant water lily (Victoria amazonica) through the tale of a young virgin named Naiá and the moon goddess Jaci.
Quick Facts
- Culture
- Tupi-Guarani indigenous people of Brazil
- Subject
- Giant water lily (Victoria amazonica)
- Legend type
- Origin story
- Central figure
- Naiá, a beautiful virgin
- Deity
- Jaci, the moon goddess
Facts from the source article.
Background
According to the legend, an indigenous tribe believed the moon was the goddess Jaci, who came at night to kiss and light up the faces of the most beautiful virgins in the village, the cunhantãs-moças. When the moon hid behind the mountain, she would take those girls with her and turn them into stars. A beautiful virgin named Naiá dreamed of becoming a star, despite warnings that girls taken by Jaci lost their blood and flesh in the transformation.
More in Origin myths
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Giant Water Lily legend (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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