Nóshtex
Tehuelche · deity · Tehuelche traditional religion; continuing · deity
Nóshtex is the cannibal giant who opens the Elal cycle. He carries off the cloud-maiden Teo to his cave and forces her to live with him; when Kóoch prophesies that her son will be mightier than his father, the terrified giant tears the unborn Elal from Teo's body, but the infant is saved by a tuco-tuco. Nóshtex's attempt to forestall the prophecy only ensures its fulfilment, for the grown Elal brings about the giant's death. He belongs to the class of monstrous, man-eating beings of the older mythic world that the culture-hero must overcome.
Children
Domains
- giants and monstrous beings
- cannibalism and devouring
Powers
- to devour human flesh as a cannibal giant
Epithets
- Nóshtex
Relations
- enemy: Elal
- captor of: Teo, the cloud-maiden
Sources
- Bórmida, Marcelo & Alejandra Siffredi. "Mitología de los tehuelches meridionales." RUNA: Archivo para las Ciencias del Hombre 12 (1969-70): 199-245.
- Wilbert, Johannes & Karin Simoneau, eds. Folk Literature of the Tehuelche Indians. UCLA Latin American Center Publications. Los Angeles: University of California, 1984.