![]() Illustration of an aquatic animal by Gustave Doré | |
Folklore | Muisca mythology |
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Country | Muisca Confederation |
Region | Altiplano Cundiboyacense Colombia |
Habitat | Lake Tota |
The Monster of Lake Tota is a legendary aquatic animal known in many works as: diablo ballena, lit. 'devil whale'. The monster is an inhabitant of Lake Tota in present-day Colombia, according to the Muisca, who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. The earliest reference in modern history was made by the conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. He described the monster as "A fish with a black head like an ox and larger than a whale" (Lucas Fernández de Piedrahita, 1676) and Antonio de Alcedo, 1788[1])). The monster was also defined as "a monstrous fish", "a black monster",[2] and even as "the Dragon" and as a "divine animal archetype" (2012).[3]
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