Basajaun
Basque · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
Basque 'lord of the woods', a benevolent giant guardian of forests and flocks and culture-bringer of agriculture and craft. Documented in folklore collected by Barandiarán (secondary).
Domains
- forest flocks
- agriculture and craft
Powers
- Guard shepherds' flocks and warn them of storms
- Teach humans agriculture, milling and smithing
- Keep the secret of cereal cultivation as the first farmer
Epithets
- the Lord of the Woods The hairy wild-man of the forest; guardian of flocks who gave humankind agriculture and the smith’s craftJosé Miguel de Barandiarán, on Basque mythology (secondary)
- Baso Jaun Lord of the ForestBarandiarán, Mitología vasca (secondary)
Sources
- existence: J. M. Barandiarán, Diccionario de mitología vasca, s.v. Basajaun (secondary); J. Caro Baroja, on Basque wild-man tradition (secondary)