Wihwin
Water spirit in Central American folklore
Wihwin is the name given to a malevolent water spirit of Central America, particularly associated with the Miskito tribe.[1] Similar mythological creatures around the world include the kelpie in Scotland,[2] the Scandinavian bäckahäst[3] and the Australian bunyip.[4] Although normally a sea-dwelling demon, it prowls through mountain ridges during the summer months.[5]
The horse-shaped monster has "jaws fenced round with horrid teeth",[5] which it uses to consume humans and other prey it finds on its nocturnal hunts.[5]
References
Citations
- ^ Bassett (1885), p. 93
- ^ Varner (2007), p. 24
- ^ Middleton (2012), p. 44
- ^ McPherson (1929), p. 61
- ^ a b c Bell, Charles N. (1862), "Remarks on the Mosquito Territory", The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, 32: 254
Bibliography
- Bassett, Fletcher S. (1885), Legends and Superstitions of the Sea and of Sailors, Belford, Clarke and Co.
- McPherson, Joseph McKenzie (1929), "Primitive Beliefs in the North-East of Scotland", Nature, 124 (3118), Longmans, Green: 175, Bibcode:1929Natur.124Q.175., doi:10.1038/124175a0, S2CID 4089570
- Middleton, Nick (2012), Rivers: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-958867-1
- Varner, Gary R. (2007), Creatures in the Mist: Little People, Wild Men and Spirit Beings around the World: A Study in Comparative Mythology, Algora, ISBN 978-0-87586-545-4