Guatimac facts for kids

Guatimac is a special ancient statue shaped like an owl. It's also known as the Idol of Guatimac. This small figure was made by the Guanches, who were the first people to live on the Canary Islands. It was discovered in 1885, hidden inside a cave on the island of Tenerife, wrapped in goat skin.

What is Guatimac?

This ancient idol is made from baked clay. It's not complete, as two parts that might have been on its head are missing. There's a small hole near its neck. People think this hole was for a strap, so it could be worn like a special charm or amulet.

Guatimac was used by the Guanche priests. These priests were called Kankus and Guañameñes. They used such figures to worship the spirits of their ancestors. When Guatimac was found, many ancient Guanche mummies were also discovered in the same cave.

Why is Guatimac Important?

Even though Guatimac is very small, only about 6.4 centimeters (about 2.5 inches) tall, it's incredibly valuable. It's one of the few ancient statues from pre-historic Tenerife that we still have today. It helps us learn a lot about the Guanche people and their beliefs. You can see this unique figurine at the Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife.

How Guatimac Was Found

One of the first historians to study Guanche idols was a man from Tenerife named Juan Bethencourt Alfonso. He wrote about how this idol was found and studied.

He explained that the Guatimac idol was discovered in 1885. It was in a cave in the Erques ravine, located between the towns of Fasnia and Güímar. Like other items found there, it was wrapped in animal skins.

Juan Bethencourt Alfonso described it as a "clay doll." He believed that Guanche priests, like the Guañameñe, wore these idols around their necks as a special chest ornament. The idol is made of baked clay, but it's not perfectly smooth, and its color is a yellowish-white. It's quite flat, only about 6 to 7 millimeters thick.

See also

In Spanish: Guatimac para niños

Images for kids

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  Guatimac at the Archaeological Museum of Puerto de la Cruz.