Supernatural Beings Identified with Christian Saints Codexery

Mari (goddess)

Basque earth mother goddess associated with weather and caves.

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Mari is the main goddess of ancient Basque mythology, often described as an Earth mother figure associated with weather.[1][2] According to the Urkiola Nature Reserve account, Mari's dwelling is a cave on the eastern side of Mount Anboto, which is called the Cueva de la Dama.[3][4]

Life and work

Esteban de Garibay, who served as a chronicler for Charles V, provided the earliest recorded mention of the "Lady of Anboto" in his work Memorial histórico español.[5] Mari's typical depiction is that of a long-haired beautiful woman, and when she travels through the air she may be surrounded by flames.[6] The god Sugaar, who goes by the alternative names Sugoi or Maju, is Mari's husband.[4] When Sugaar comes to visit Mari, severe storms break out; smoke clouds appear when she is cooking, and hail falls when she is angered.[2]

A thunderclap or clouds gathering near Mount Anboto signal that Mari is arriving.[2] Mari is reported to confiscate items that people selfishly claim not to possess.[7][8] Scholars think the name Mari derives from either "Emari" (meaning gift) or "Amari" (mother plus a suffix), with the first vowel being dropped.[9]

What the cited sources add

Uberuaga notes that Mari is often described as living underground in deep caverns she can reach through caves and chasms.[8] Uberuaga explains that Mari sustains herself by taking that which is denied, illustrated by the example of someone hiding apples.[8] Uberuaga adds that Mari is a name extracted from stories by José Miguel de Barandiarán, who gave it to the concept of a mother-Earth-like figure.[8] Uberuaga reports that Mari is often seen combing her hair or spinning balls of golden thread.[8]

People asked Mari to intercede on their behalf, often giving her a ram or leaving coins in exchange for protection from hail.[8]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026; Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026; Urkiola Nature Reserve, Basque Country: the abode of the goddess Mari; Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Urkiola Nature Reserve, Basque Country: the abode of the goddess Mari. facts only, no text reused. spain.info
  4. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Urkiola Nature Reserve, Basque Country: the abode of the goddess Mari; Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Esteban de Garibay Zamalloa, Memorial histórico español: colección de documentos, opúsculos y antigüedades, Tomo VII. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026; Arana, Anuntxi. ([2008]). Euskal mitologiaz : jentilak eta kristauak. Elkar ISBN 9788497835695. PMC 863179178. (kontsulta data: 2018-11-03). 24. or.; Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026; Uberuaga, "Basque Fact of the Week: Mari, the Basque Mother Earth", Buber's Basque Page, 17 May 2020; Uranga, "En la mitología vasca, representación antropomorfa femenina de la Tierra y las fuerzas naturales", aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus, 2026 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Uberuaga, "Basque Fact of the Week: Mari, the Basque Mother Earth", Buber's Basque Page, 17 May 2020. facts only, no text reused. buber.net
  9. Wikipedia, "Mari (goddess)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: This interpretation is derived from articles in the Enciclopedia General Ilustrada del Pais Vasco Encyclopedia Auñamendi, which in turn cites Euskalerriaren Yak (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Mari (goddess) (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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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.

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