Invunche

Origin and tradition

Chilote mythology tells of a deformed guardian created or kept by witches to protect a cave and the secrets inside it.

Illustration in this atlas

An adult humanlike cave guardian supports himself on his hands and one foot while the other leg bends behind his back toward his neck. The plate interprets the contorted posture described in Chiloé stories without depicting its violent creation.

References and further reading

1. en.wikipedia.org — Invunche
2. memoriachilena.gob.cl — MC0031710.pdf
3. memoriachilena.gob.cl — MC0037757.pdf

These references offer further reading. Accounts and depictions vary; the atlas illustration is interpretive artwork, rather than historical or scientific evidence.