Tag Archives: caves

Art, Basque Fact of the Week, Folklore, History

Basque Fact of the Week: Caves and Caverns of the Basque Country

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We often associate prehistory with caves, with literal cavemen and cavewomen who sought shelter from the elements and predators within the safety of chasms and grottos. The Basque Country, a place where mountains meet the sea, is full of caves, caverns, and subterranean tunnels. These natural shelters have played a huge role in the history, […]

Basque Fact of the Week, Folklore

Basque Fact of the Week: Mari, the Basque Mother Earth

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In the pre-Christian religion of the Basques, there wasn’t a strict hierarchy of beings, no Zeus or Odin who ruled over the rest of the gods. There were many wild spirts, such as the basajaunak, the lamiak, and the jentilak. And there were more powerful beings, including Sugaar and the vague sky-god Ortzi. However, Mari […]