Sugaar
In Basque mythology, Sugaar (also Sugar, Sugoi, Suarra, Maju) is the male half of a pre-Christian Basque deity associated with storms and thunder. He shows may similarities to Herensuge, with Sugaar being much older.[1]
Mythology and description
Sugaar is sometimes said to take the form of pure fire or lightning, but his true form is usually represented as a serpent or dragon.[2] He is Mari's consort, and is said to visit her at Anboto every Friday. Different interpretations say that these meetings consist of him doing her hair[2] or that the pair join to create thunderstorms.[1] The visits are also considered sexual in nature, a reference to how the rain (Sugaar) fertilizes the earth and soil (Mari).[2] Like Mari, Sugar is said to live in various caves and mountains. One of his homes is said to be the Aralar Mountain Range.[2]
In Betelu, Sugaar is said to be an evil spirit, and in Ataun, he is used as a bogyman figure.[1]
The young men from Dima
One legend about Sugaar involves two young brothers from Dima, Spain. The pair found Sugaar in a cave in Baltzola, and the younger of the two cut his tail with a stone. The elder brother disproved of the younger's actions, and they left.[1]
Years later, the elder brother meets a man who takes him to the same Baltzola cave. The man gives him a box of gold to keep, as well as a red belt to give to his younger brother. When the brothers met again, the younger brother refused to put the belt on and tied it to a chestnut tree. The tree burst into flames, and they realized that the man must have been Sugaar.[1]
Etymology
The name Suga(a)r is derived from suge (serpent) and -ar (male), thus "male serpent".[3] The suggestions of a formation based on su (fire) and gar (flame), thus yielding "flame of fire" are considered folk etymology.[3]
Sugoi, another name of the same deity, has two possible interpretations, either a suge + o[h]i (former, "old serpent") or su + goi ("high fire"). There is no likely etymology for the third name of this god, Maju.
See also
- Herensuge (Basque dragon)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Bordagarai, Koldo Alijostes; Lopez de Arkaute, Diego Ugarte. "Basque Mythology - SUGAAR". basquemythology.amaroa.com. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Uberuaga, Blas Pedro (27 March 2022). "Basque Fact of the Week: Sugaar, the Serpent-God Consort of Mari". Buber's Basque Page. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
- 1 2 Trask, L. (1997). The History of Basque. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-13116-2.
- Dueso, José (1996). La primitiva religión de los vascos [The primitive religion of the Basques] (in Spanish). Orain S.A. ISBN 84-89077-56-8.