Achamán facts for kids
Achamán was the most important god for the Guanche people, who lived on the island of Tenerife long ago. He was seen as the "father god" and the creator of everything. His name means "the skies," showing his connection to the heavens.
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Who Was Achamán?
Achamán was believed to be an all-powerful and never-ending god. The Guanches thought he created the land, water, fire, and air. All living things were also believed to come from him. Achamán lived high up in the sky. Sometimes, he would come down to the tops of mountains to look at his creations.
Legends of Achamán
The Guanches had many stories about Achamán. These legends helped them understand the world around them.
The Sun and the Volcano
One famous legend tells about Guayota, a bad spirit who lived inside the Teide volcano. Guayota supposedly kidnapped Magec, who was the sun. This plunged the world into darkness. People prayed to Achamán for help. Achamán saved Magec and locked Guayota inside the Teide volcano instead.
How Humans Were Created
Another Guanche story explains how people came to be. Achamán first created a group of men and women from water and land. He gave them cattle to help them live. Later, he created more people but did not give them cattle. He told these new people to serve the first group. This myth helped explain the different social classes that existed among the Guanche people.
Other Names for Achamán
Achamán was known by several other names on Tenerife:
- Achuhuran
- Achahucanac
- Achguayaxerax
- Achoron
On other Canary Islands, the supreme god had different names. It is not certain if they were exactly the same god as Achamán. However, they were all seen as the most important god of their island:
- Acoran on Gran Canaria
- Abora on La Palma
- Orahan on La Gomera
- Eraorahan on El Hierro
The name of the supreme god on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura is not known today.
See also
In Spanish: Achamán para niños
