Anchanchu

In Aymara mythology, Anchanchu or Janchanchu (Hispanic spelling, Anchancho) is a terrible demon that haunts caves, rivers, and other isolated places. This deity is closely related to the Uru god Tiw.

For the people of Huancané, it is recommended to not walk at night, specifically after midnight. Anchanchu appears as a red dog around one to three A.M. His appearance is described as being a pudgy, bald, older man. ^[1]

Anchanchu is thought of by some of the Aymaran as a spiritual figure that has authority over extracting precious minerals from the soil. He is a kind of "gatekeeper" of the trade of minerals that reside in the soil, and there is a lengthy process, which includes The Dance of the Horns, that whoever would like to access has to complete.^[2]

See also

• Abchanchu
• Muki