Roque Bentayga Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Roque Bentayga
Rock Bentayga, Bentaiga
View of Roque Bentayga
Highest point
Elevation	1,414 m (4,639 ft)
Naming
Native name	Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help)
English translation	"Place that supports"
Geography
Roque Bentayga Location in Canary Islands
Geology
Mountain type	Volcanic plug

Roque Bentayga is a famous rock formation on Gran Canaria, one of the beautiful Canary Islands in Spain. It stands tall in the middle of the island, inside a huge volcanic crater called Tejeda. This amazing rock is not just a natural wonder; it's also an important historical site. It has special ancient buildings called "almogarén," which were used by the native Guanche people long ago.

What is Roque Bentayga?
Ancient History and People
What Does the Name Mean?
Pictures of Roque Bentayga
See also

What is Roque Bentayga?

Roque Bentayga is a natural rock pinnacle. Think of it as a tall, pointed rock sticking up from the ground. It reaches a height of 1,414 meters (about 4,639 feet) above sea level. This impressive rock is located inside the Nublo Rural Park [es], a protected natural area.

Ancient History and People

Petroglyphs on Bentayga.

Near Roque Bentayga, you can find old settlements of the Guanches, who were the first people to live on the Canary Islands. These settlements, called Cuevas del Rey and Roque Camello, have about a hundred caves. These caves were used for homes, burials, and even storing food.

On the eastern side of the rock's base is a special place called the "almogarén del Bentayga." This building was likely a place of worship for the ancient Guanche people. There's also a stone wall around the base of the rock. Some people think it marked a sacred area, while others believe it was used for defense.

Recently, some cave engravings were found that use an ancient Libyan-Berber alphabet. However, scientists are still studying them to confirm if they are truly authentic.

What Does the Name Mean?

The name "Bentayga" has been discussed a lot over the years. This is because there was confusing information when the Spanish first arrived and conquered the Canary Islands. Also, the way the name was written and spoken changed over time.

One idea is that "Bentaiga" comes from two parts: ben- and -taiga. Ben- might mean "place of" or "belonging to." Taiga could be a place name found on Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. So, "Bentaiga" might mean "the place of Taiga." But the exact meaning of "Taiga" itself is not fully clear.

Another idea suggests that "Bentaiga" combines a word from ancient Numidia, bent (meaning 'mountain'), with a Mycenaean word, aiga (meaning 'sacred'). If this is true, then "Bentayga" would mean 'sacred mountain'.

The most common idea is that the name "Bentayga" means "place that supports" or "place that keeps in place." This fits with the beliefs of the Guanches. They thought this special place was an axis mundi, which means a central point connecting the earth to the heavens.