Cave of Chinguaro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cave-Shrine of Chinguaro |
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Cueva de Chinguaro
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church |
| District | Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna |
| Province | Archdiocese of Seville |
| Rite | Roman |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Shrine |
| Location | |
| Location | Güímar, Spain. |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
The Cave-Shrine of Chinguaro is a special place in Güímar, on the island of Tenerife in Spain. It's a cave that was once a very important spot for the native people of the Canary Islands, called the Guanches. Later, it became a Roman Catholic Shrine where people worship.
This cave was once the home of Acaimo, who was a king (or mencey) of the Guanches in the area of Güímar. It was also a sacred place for them.
A Sacred Guanche Place
Before the Spanish arrived, the Guanche people used this cave for their traditional religious practices. They believed in a goddess named Chaxiraxi. She was an important figure in their ancient faith. This faith was similar to the beliefs of the Berber people in North Africa.
From Guanche to Christian Shrine
When the Spanish took over the Canary Islands, things changed. Spanish religious leaders saw the cave and its importance. They connected the Guanche goddess Chaxiraxi with the Virgin Mary. The Spanish then moved a special image related to this belief to another cave, the Cave of Achbinico in Candelaria.
This new cave became the first shrine in the Canary Islands dedicated to the Virgin of Candelaria. Even though a Christian symbol was placed there, many Guanches still followed their traditional religion for a long time.
An Ancient Discovery
The Cave-Shrine of Chinguaro is also very important for archaeologists. These are scientists who study ancient human history. They have found layers of ash inside the cave. By using a method called carbon-dated, they discovered that this ash is more than 3,000 years old! This shows that people have lived in and used this cave for a very, very long time. It helps us learn about the ancient Guanche people and their history.
See also
You can learn more about Chinguaro for kids in Spanish here: Chinguaro para niños
