Central American Mythology

Central American Mythology

La Sihuehuet/Siguanaba(cont.)

Works Cited

Guatemalan version (cont.)

El Salvadoran Version

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/siguanaba

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tlaloc

wtf-elsalvador.com/legend-of-siguanaba

en.wikipedia.org.wiki/aztec_religion

Guatemalan Version

On the Guatemalan side of Lake Güija, in Jutiapa Department, the Siguanaba is able to take on many forms but the most common is that of a slim, beautiful woman with long hair who bathes herself on the banks of the Ostúa River, although she may also appear by other water sources or simply by lonely ridesides. To lustful men she appears just as a beautiful woman, while to lovestruck men she takes the form of the object of the man's affections. A tale from San Juan La Isla relates how a man went to meet his wife who was returning on horseback from El Salvador, and after accompanying her for a while his "wife" flung herself from her mount and revealed herself to be the Siguanaba. In this same region, the Siguanaba is said to appear on moonlit nights to horseriders on lonely roads, asking to ride pillion. After riding with her victim for a short while, she reveals her fingernails as fearsome claws and her face as that of a horse, causing the rider to die of terror. Those lucky few that manage to flee find themselves lost in the wilderness.

In Guatemala, the Siguanaba is said to be encountered washing her hair with a golden bowl and combing her hair with a golden comb. She is said to wander the streets of Guatemala City, luring away men who are in love. In Guatemala, the legend is more common in Guatemala City, Antigua Guatemala (the old colonial capital) and the eastern departments of the country. The most common variant in these areas is that where the spirit has the face of a horse. In Guatemala the Siguanaba is often said to appear to men who are unfaithful in order to punish them. A Kaqchikel Maya version of the Siguanaba from San Juan Comalapa describes her as a woman with enormous glowing eyes and a hoof for a hand. She wears a glittering dress and has very long hair and haunts the local rubbish dump, frightening disobedient children and drunken husbands.

The Salvadoran legend of La Siguanaba says that the woman, originally called Sihuehuet (beautiful woman), was a peasant girl that ascended to queen using her charms (and a witch's brew) to lure into marriage Tlaloc's son, Yeisun, who was a Nahuatl prince. After marriage, when her husband went to war, she had affairs with other men, and Cipitio was the child of this relationship. Sihuehuet was a bad mother, neglecting her son, leaving him alone to meet her lovers. To inherit the throne she concocted a plot to use another magic potion to poison Yeisun during a festival, and so claim the throne for her lover. But the plan worked too well. Yeisun was converted in a savage giant monster with two heads, who ravaged the attendants to the palace's feast. The guard struggled and defeated the creature, ending Yeisun's life. When Tlaloc found out about this, he sought the help of the almighty god, Teotl whom condemned and cursed Sihuehuet: She would be called Sihuanaba ("hideous woman"); she would be beautiful at first sight, but she would turn into a horrible abomination after luring her victims to isolated gorges. She was forced to wander the countryside, appearing to men who travelled alone at night. She is supposed to be seen at night in the rivers of El Salvador, washing clothes and always looking for her son, Cipitio, who was also cursed by Teotl to remain a boy for eternity

When Tlaloc discovered this, he was furious. He changed her name to Siguanaba, or horrible woman, and put a curse on her. From that point forward, she would appear beautiful at first sight, but when men got closer to her, she would change into an ugly woman with a horse face. Tlaloc condemned her to roam the fields and appear to men who traveled alone at night. People say that they can see her washing clothes in the rivers and looking for her son, Cipitio, who was granted eternal youth by the god Tlaloc.

La Sihuehuet/Siguanaba

Siguanaba (also known as La Siguanaba) is a well-known figure from both Salvadoran and Guatemalan mythology. She was originally called Sihuehuet, which means beautiful woman, when she had an affair with the son of God, Tlaloc and became pregnant. However, she was an irresponsible mother and left her young son alone while she satisfied her desires.

La Sihuehuet/Siguanaba(cont.)

The legend says that she often appears to wanderers in the night, usually to men who seduce women and boast of their conquests. These men are bound to see her bathing using a golden bowl and golden comb, her body shimmering in the moonlight through her nightgown. In order to keep their souls safe from Siguanaba, it is said in some versions that men must bite on a metal cross and pray to God. If you happen to see a woman bathing in the river, and you’re not sure if it’s Siguanaba, you can yell, "No Te Vas a Ir Maria Pata de Gallina" three times. If it is Siguanaba, she will be frightened. If not, people will think you are crazy, but that’s better than being scared. It’s always important to take the necessary precautions so you aren’t tricked by La Siguanaba!

Tlaloc

Tlaloc was an important deity in Aztec religion; a god of rain, fertility, and water. He was a beneficent god who gave life and sustenance, but he was also feared for his ability to send hail, thunder, and lightning, and for being the lord of the powerful element of water. Tlaloc is also associated with caves, springs, and mountains, in which he was believed to reside.

Aztec Cultural Gods

"Smoking Mirror"- omnipotent universally powerful god

"Feathered Serpent"- God of life, wind and the sunrise

"Cloud Serpent"- God of war, sacrifice, and hunting

"Left-handed Hummingbird"- God of the sun

La Sihuehuet/Siguanaba Appearance

When encountered, she is a beautiful woman who is either naked or dressed in flimsy white; she usually appears bathing in a public water tank, river, or other water source, although she may also be found washing clothing. She likes to lure lone men out late on dark, moonless nights, without letting them see her face at first. She tempts such men away from their planned routes to lose them in deep canyons. In Guatemala, the Siguanaba appears as a beautiful, seductive woman with very long hair. She will not reveal her face until the last moment, when it is revealed as either the face of a horse or, alternatively, a human skull. If her victim (usually an unfaithful man) does not die of fear then he is driven mad by the sight. From afar the Siguanaba can imitate the appearance of a man's girlfriend in order to lead him astray. When appearing to children, the Siguanaba will take on the appearance of the child's mother in order to lure her victim into her grasp; once touched by the Siguanaba the child is driven mad & she will lead her victim into the wilderness to leave the child lost

& insane.