Modern rendering of Sugaar as serpent in the

lauburu by Josu Goi

Sugaar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
is normally imagined as a dragon or serpent. Unlike
his female consort, Mari, there are very few
remaining legends about Sugaar. The basic purpose
of his existence is to periodically join with Mari in
the mountains to generate the storms.
In one myth Sugaar seduces a Scottish princess in
the village of Mundaka to father the mythical first
Lord of Biscay, Jaun Zuria. This legend is believed
to be a fabrication made to legitimate the Lordship
of Biscay as a separate state from Navarre, because
there is no historical account of such a lord. Only the
fact that the delegates of Mundaka were attributed
with the formal privilege of being the first to vote in
the Biltzar (Parliament) of the province may look as
unlikely indication of the partial veracity of this
legend.
Contents
1 Etymology
2 Local legends on Sugaar
3 See also
4 References
Etymology
The name Suga(a)r is derived from suge (serpent) and -ar (male), thus "male serpent".
[1]
The
suggestions of a formation based on su (fire) and gar (flame), thus yielding "flame of fire" are
considered folk etymology.
[1]
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.
Local legends on Sugaar
In Ataun he is said to have two homes: in the caves of Amunda and Atarreta. He is said to have
been witnessed crossing the sky in form of fire-sickle, what is considered presage of storms. In
this area is also said that Sugaar punishes the children that disobey their parents.
In Azkoitia Sugaar is clearly identified with Maju. He meets Mari on Fridays (the day of the
akelarre or sabbat), conceiving then the storms.
In Betelu Sugaar is known as Suarra and considered a demon. There they say that he travels
through the sky in the shape of a fireball, between the mountains Balerdi and Elortalde.
See also
Herensuge (Basque dragon)
References
1. ^
a

b
Trask, L. The History of Basque, Routledge 1997 ISBN 0-415-13116-2
La primitiva religin de los vascos, Jos Dueso, Orain S.A., 1996. ISBN 84-89077-56-8.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sugaar&oldid=600303152"
Categories: Basque mythology Basque and Iberian deities Sky and weather gods Thunder gods
Dragons
This page was last modified on 19 March 2014 at 13:32.
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