Achaman

Supreme creator sky-god of the Guanches of Tenerife. Principal early source is Espinosa (1594); the modern synthesis is Tejera Gaspar (1988). Classified deity (high-god).

Domains

• sky
• creation

Powers

• sustain and uphold all things
• free the captured sun and defeat Guayota
• creates and sets in order earth, sky, water, fire, air, mountains, plants and animals from chaos

Epithets

• Achamán latin · Achaman · cultThe supreme sky-god and creator of the Guanches of Tenerife, “the heavens”Guanche tradition recorded by early Castilian chroniclers (secondary)
• Achuhuran Achahucanac Guanche (Tenerife) · Achuhuran Achahucanac · epithetthe great, the sublime, the sustainer of heaven and earth (titles recorded for the high god)Wikipedia, 'Achamán' (secondary)

Relations

• spouse: ChaxiraxiReciprocal of guanche_chaxiraxi.spouse — The Sun Mother as consort of the high god of Tenerife.Antonio Tejera Gaspar, La religion de los guanches (1988) (secondary)
• enemy: GuayotaReciprocal of guanche_guayota.enemy — Achaman fought the demon of Echeyde, freed the captive sun and sealed Guayota inside Teide.Antonio Tejera Gaspar, La religion de los guanches (1988) (secondary)

Sources

• Achaman was the Guanche supreme sky-god and creator of Tenerife, his name meaning 'the skies'; the Dominican Alonso de Espinosa (1594) records him under epithets Achahurahan, Achahucanac and Achguayaxerax, 'the great, the sublime, He who sustains all things'.: Espinosa, A. de (1594). Historia de Nuestra Senora de Candelaria. Seville. (reference); Tejera Gaspar, A. (1988). La religion de los guanches. La Laguna: Universidad de La Laguna. (reference)
• The same supreme sky-god is named differently across the islands: Achaman (Tenerife), Acoran (Gran Canaria), Eraorahan (El Hierro), Abora (La Palma), Orahan (La Gomera).: Abreu Galindo, J. de (c. 1602). Historia de la conquista de las siete islas de Canaria. (reference); Tejera Gaspar, A. (1988). La religion de los guanches. La Laguna. (reference)